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.
November 28, 1987 - University of Minnesota extension nutritionist Joanne Slavin answers listener questions about holiday nutrition.
November 30, 1987 - William Raspberry, urban affairs columnist for The Washington Post, speaking at Itasca Seminar "Families at Risk." Raspberry addressed the general topic of poverty in America by looking at the current welfare system and suggesting ways that the system might be improved. His suggestions for fighting poverty and reforming welfare were primarily threefold: first, reward success and let failure punish itself; second, study success, not failure when trying to see how poverty can be alleviated; third, stop blaming racism for everything that goes wrong. After speech, Raspberry answered audience questions.
December 7, 1987 - Retired Federal Bureau of Prisons director Norman Carlson and University of Minnesota sociologist David Ward answer listener questions about prisoners and prison conditions.
December 8, 1987 - Eugene McCarthy, former Minnesota senator and presidential contender, speaking to the Minnesota Press Club. McCarthy’s address was titled, "The United States: The Number One Colony to the World."
December 10, 1987 - Jon Hassler, author in residence at St. John's University in Collegeville, reads from some of his works and discusses his career as an author in an appearance at the St. John's "Basilica Series" lectures in Minneapolis.
December 12, 1987 - On this Sportfolio program, Terry Ryan, director of scouting for the Minnesota Twins, discusses the art of scouting in baseball. Topics include the business, talent, process, and the World Series Champion Twins. Ryan also answers listener questions.
December 12, 1987 - On this Weekend program, Dr. Dean Abrahamson, professor of public affairs and director of the Global Environmental Policy Project at the Humphrey Institute, discusses the causes of world climate change and the implications. Topics include the carbon dioxide, changes in climate patterns, and the long-term consequences of global warming. Abrahamson also answers listener questions.
December 14, 1987 - David T. Ellwood, associate professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, speaking at Itasca Seminar "Families at Risk." Ellwood addressed the current welfare system and offer economic alternatives to it. He has devoted much of his career to the problems of the poor and disadvantaged. After speech, Elwood answered audience questions.
December 18, 1987 - Dr. Timothy Polk, Associate Professor of Religion at Hamline University in St. Paul, answers listener questions about the Bible, its history and interpretation.
December 19, 1987 - On this Sportfolio program, Tim Tschida, Major League Baseball umpire, was originally scheduled to discuss the officiating, but was replaced with an extended listener question period on general sports topics and interview with Howard Sinker.