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 5, 1990 - Carl Sagan, author and astrophysicist, speaking at a Washington D.C. conference co-sponsored by the AMA National Initiative for Science and Technology. Sagan’s address was titled "Education: Strategies for Change," and dealt with the dangers of a scientifically illiterate population.
January 6, 1990 - James Campbell, National Weather Service meteorologist, talks about winter weather. Topics include greenhouse effect, windchill, the North shore, and weather cycles. Campbell also answers listener questions.
January 8, 1990 - David Weissbrodt, professor of the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center, and Barbara Frey, executive director of the Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Council, discuss human rights. Topics include rights issues in Albania, Africa, China, Central America, and North Korea. They also provide details of their organizations. Weissbrodt and Frey also answer listener questions.
January 13, 1990 - Minnesota Historical Society president Nina Archabal takes listener's questions about Minnesota history.
January 16, 1990 - Paul Loeb, investigative reporter and author, speaking at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Loeb’s speech was titled "Hope in Hard Times: How Individuals Can Make a Difference in the World". Loeb reflects on the recent activism in Eastern Europe and laments that Americans have forgotten that such activism is part of our heritage and our future. He attacks our "culture of passivity" and talks about how we can overcome it. Loeb is working on a book about the lives and choices of today's college students, and he has been visiting colleges and universities across the country to determine what they think about voting, political activism and patriotism. Loeb has written the books "Nuclear Culture: Living and Working in the World's Largest Atomic Complex", and Hope in Hard Times: America's Peace Movement and the Reagan Era".
January 19, 1990 - Dan Rather, CBS News anchor, speaking at the annual meeting of the greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, held in Minneapolis Convention Center. Rather’s address was titled "The Twenty-First Century Has Begun." Rather talks about global community, and the need for Americans to know more about the world. Following his speech, Rather moderated a panel discussion with 3M chairman Allen Jacobson, Cargill chairman Whitney MacMillan, and Hamline University's Nicholas Hayes. They looked ahead to the U.S. role in the world economy in the decades to come. James Rupp, the president and CEO of WCCO Radio and Television, introduced Dan Rather, speaking at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
January 22, 1990 - Bernadette Anderson, director of YMCA's Metro Youth Services; and Patti Tetlin, of the Minnesota Women's Fund, talk about an upcoming conference, "Growing Up Female in Minnesota". Program includes a brief report by MPR's Chris Roberts on a study on adolescent girls.
January 27, 1990 - William Morrish, Director of the University of Minnesota's Design Center for the American Urban Landscape answers listener questions about how Minnesota's cities, towns, and suburbs look now, and how they could look.
January 29, 1990 - Documentary report on heart transplantation, its rise over the last decade, and the shortage of donor organs.
February 1, 1990 - Julian Bond, civil rights activist and former Georgia state senator, speaking at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Bond’s address was titled, "Crisis in Black America: Past, Present and Future." After speech, Bond answered audience questions. Bond gained national attention when he was nominated for vice president at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. He was the first Black to have his name placed in nomination at a major political party convention, but he withdrew his name, because at age 28 he was too young to serve. While a student at Morehouse College in the 1960s, he was one of the founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, active in voter registration drives in the rural south, and an early opponent of the Vietnam War.