Midday, the longest running MPR news program, began as an extension of a daily half hour noon newscast called “Midday Report.” In September 1971 it expanded into various longer iterations, running weekdays, as well as encompassing some weekend programming. During this period, it was described as: “A program of news and information, a calendar of the day’s cultural events and the environmental report.” In January 1972 the name changed to Midday, and a month later it was described as: “A program of news, consumer and environmental information, discussion of public issues, and reports by the MPR and NPR news staffs."
Separate MPR public affairs programming were featured, such as Spectrum, Sportfolio, MPR Special, Insight, Weekend, Forum, and MPR’s Mainstreet Radio, among others. Local programming was also featured, including Westminster Town Hall Forum, Carlson Lecture Series, Minnesota Meeting, Minnesota Press Club, and Mondale Policy Forum. National outside programming included Options, Horizons, Communique, National Press Club, Chappaqua Lecture, Ford Hall Forum, Commonwealth Club, among others; and interview shows from the likes of Studs Terkel, William F. Buckley and Nancy Fushan.
As the years progressed, the “Interview” and “Call-in” would become a regular format for Midday. Beginning in the mid-1970’s until 1992, Midday was hosted by Bob Potter, after which, Gary Eichten became the permanent host. Many guest hosts also participated over the years. During the Eichten era, Midday became a daily two-hour program staple, running from 11AM-1PM. Midday ended its run in January 2012, when long-time host Eichten retired.
July 25, 1984 - PLEASE NOTE - The broadcast contains explicit language and graphic descriptions. Fred de Sam Lazaro, WSCD-Duluth reporter, presents a documentary investigating child abuse in northeastern Minnesota. The first widely publicized case of incest or child sexual abuse was the Cermak family - grandparents, uncles, aunts and parents, who were convicted about a year ago of repeated sexual abuse of children from their infancy through adolescence. Since the Cermaks, numerous other cases have been uncovered, and the prosecutor of the Cermak case, Kathleen Morris, says the problem is far more prevalent than most of us would like to believe.
July 28, 1984 - University of Minnesota Veterinary resident Dr. Ford Bell takes listeners' questions about pets.
August 1, 1984 - Curtis Pesmen, chief of research at Esquire magazine, discusses his new book, "How A Man Ages." Pesmen provides insight on what happen to a man’s body as he ages. Pesmen also answers listener questions.
August 3, 1984 - Dorothy McClung, director of the new Minnesota tax aMinnesotaesty program, answers listener questions about why the legislature approved an aMinnesotaesty, and how it will work.
August 4, 1984 - On this Weekend program, Joseph Rossillon, president of the Freshwater Foundation, talks about acid rain, ground water contamination and the adequacy of water supplies. Rossillon also answers listener questions.
August 5, 1984 - Written by Jan Hartman CBC Radio Sunday Matinee August 5, 1984It is not the bang, but the whimper of isolate mankind in the treatment of nuclear war which will be brought to us on CBC radio on Sunday August 5th. American playwright Jan Hartman has written a script to fire our imaginations, not with the drama of nuclear war in which the survivors go nobly on to create a better world, but with the senselessness of the pride which could cause such desolation.The message of the play comes through devastatingly, not in the predictable rhetoric of the opposing sides, nor in the ever more disorganized weather/radiation reports, but in the plaintive cry of a despairing survivor, "Can anyone hear me?" It becomes apparent that this is the essence both of the play and of the peace movement. How does anyone get the world to listen, to fInd a different direction while that is still possible.
August 6, 1984 - Lieutenant General James Abrahamson, the director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. SDI is a group which is conducting research on the possible use of lasers, particle beams, and other high technology methods of defending against a Soviet missile attack. The plan was proposed last March by President Reagan, and quickly became known as the "star wars" defense plan. After speech, Abrahamson answers listener questions. General Abrahamson is a former test pilot. He trained as an astronaut. He directed NASA's space shuttle project until this past April, when the president appointed him to direct the strategic defense project. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
August 11, 1984 - University of Minnesota Cardiologist Dr. Richard Crow answers listener questions about starting and maintaining on exercise program, and about preparing for long distance contests like the Twin Cities Marathon.
August 13, 1984 - A call-in show with children's authors, Tomie dePaola and local author Jane Resh Thomas.
August 15, 1984 - Call-in about the role of the University of Minnesota in teaching, research and serving the public.