For many who have listened to the airwaves over the previous decades, Gary Eichten’s voice is synonymous to Minnesota Public Radio. The retired MPR News editor-at-large Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at MPR, including news director, special events producer, and station manager. He routinely served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live-special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday (which he hosted for more than 20 years!).
It all began on April Fool’s Day in 1967, when Eichten started his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at Collegeville’s KSJR, MPR’s first station. He became the station’s one-man news department and quickly found that turning up his headphones forced him to speak more intimately, which gave him that radio voice.
In the fall of 1992, Eichten moved from hosting the regional late-afternoon edition of All Things Considered to hosting Midday. In his new role, Eichten personified the art of hosting, a tradition begun by the program’s previous host, Bob Potter. It also solidified Gary’s distinct tone and insightful questions that listeners came to hear as being MPR.
As Midday host, Eichten let his guests answer those questions and sought to understand their responses. With daily early morning research, his respectful but direct on-air style, and assistance from his long-time producer Sara Meyer, Eichten found himself making memorable radio…from a poignant sign-off of the original regional “All Things Considered,” a live on-air moment with a contentious Governor Ventura, to even a pledge drive.
Among the honors Eichten received during his MPR career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award for Best Local News Program and the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, Eichten was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame.
Simply put, Mr. Eichten is a Minnesota treasure, on and off the air.
February 16, 1984 - Allan Spear, Minnesota DFL state senator, shares his thoughts on the state’s sentencing guidelines system. Spear says he sees the sentencing guidelines as complex, but just.
April 25, 1984 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Tom Mee, media relations director for the Minnesota Twins, about bulk ticket sales buy-out, status of Minnesota Twins as an organization, owner Calvin Griffith’s possible sale of team, and public interest in team.
July 26, 1984 - Twin Cities film critic Phil Anderson shares his review of the film Purple Rain, which was made by famous local musician Prince. Anderson describes it as a musical story of characters.
September 24, 1984 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews historian Hy Berman about the idea of labor museum in Minnesota. Berman explains that the state is a excellent representation of the varied evolution of labor movement in the Unites States.
September 28, 1984 - MPR’s Gary Eichten provides commentary on the 1984 Minnesota Twins baseball season. While no pennant…the team has a new owner, Kirby Puckett on the roster, and gave fans a season of plucky play.
November 2, 1984 - After 11 years of being on the air, host Gary Eichten bids a sincere and fond farewell to Minnesota Public Radio’s original All Things Considered program, which originally ended in late 1984.
November 5, 1984 - Minnesota Journal host Gary Eichten presents a collection of reports and news items for Monday, November 5th, 1984. This was the first broadcast of the Minnesota Journal program series.
November 12, 1984 - MPR’s Gary Eichten gets music critic Jon Bream’s take on the music phenomenon of Prince and the genius of his artistry.
December 27, 1984 - MPR’s Gary Eichten profiles the local bar band Willie and the Bees as the band prepares to call it quits. Segment presents an interview with band founder Willie Murphy about the band and their sound.
January 7, 1985 - Minnesota Journal host Gary Eichten presents a collection of reports and news items for Monday, January 7, 1985.