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.
January 23, 1989 - Barry Commoner, author and scientist, speaking at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Commoner addresses the topic "Development of Health for All: The Environment."
January 26, 1989 - Seymour Fliegel, New York deputy superintendent of schools in New York's District 4 – Manhattan, speaking at the Itasca Seminar. The seminar’s theme was "Our Public Schools: Balancing Educational Excellence and Equity." After speech, Fliegel answers audience questions. Fliegel is an acknowledged authority on schools of choice for public education and credited with developing a system of alternative schools in District 4 that has vastly improved the accomplishments of the children of East Harlem.
January 27, 1989 - Steve Emerson, author and senior editor for U.S. News and World Report, speaks at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota as part of Carleton Lecture series. Emerson’s address is titled "Reporting vs. Reality: How the News Gets Filtered." After speech, Emerson answered audience questions, including patterns of evening news, broadcasting standards, lack of certain press coverage, and press manipulation by terrorists.
January 28, 1989 - Deb Brown, extension horticulturist at the University of Minnesota, answers listener questions about the care and feeding of houseplants.
January 30, 1989 - Patricia Schroeder, a Colorado congresswoman, speaks at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota as part of Carleton Lecture series. Schroeder addressed the need for reducing the deficit, spending more of our money on education, day care, and health coverage…and less on military projects. After speech, Loeb answered audience questions, including voter turnout being low because of registering difficulty, the last presidential election, legalizing drugs, Roe vs. Wade, Jack Kemp, and reelection of congressional incumbents.
January 31, 1989 - Fifteen years ago the federal government passed laws aimed at getting more handicapped children out of special, segregated schools and into their local public schools. Children with all kinds of disabilities began appearing more frequently in public school classrooms. Deaf children were among them. Government officials and public education officials firmly believed that the best way to educate deaf children for a life in the hearing world was to start them off in regular public schools. the term for this is mainstreaming. Many assert this has been handled poorly. Following is an opportunity for listeners to question Joe Nathan, an educator, and Paula Goldberg, a disabilities expert about the mainstreaming of children with disabilities.
February 1, 1989 - Dr. Allan Collins and registered nurse Betty Bergerson answer listener questions about their work to help earthquake victims in Armenia. Collins and Bergerson are just returned from several weeks of volunteer work in Armenia.
February 8, 1989 - Paul Loeb, author and reporter, speaking at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In his address, Loeb describes the split he sees in American culture - those who on one hand have what he calls compassion towards social causes but who continue to elect what he sees as regressive leaders. Loeb says the split in our culture is due in part to the manipulation of the media by public figures and the confusion among Americans on a range of issues. After speech, Loeb answered audience questions, including studies available, allocating volunteer time, and the use of media by public figures. Loeb's first books are titled, "Nuclear Culture: Living and Working in the World's Largest Nuclear Complex” and "Hope in Hard Times: America's Peace Movement in the Reagan Era."
February 10, 1989 - On this Midday program, a presentation of a Mainstreet Radio documentary on rural homelessness. There are people in rural Minnesota who can't afford to put a roof over their heads and advocates for the poor say rural homelessness is a growing problem.
February 10, 1989 - Listener call-in follow up to documentary on homelessness. Dave Schultz, consultant for Minnesota Department of Human Services is interviewed (Pat Near, coordinator of Western Community Action in Marshall, a social service agency, was originally set as guest but was unable to attend).