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 16, 1999 - A Carleton College speech by Washington Post syndicated political columnist and author George Will. he is also contributing editor of Newsweek magazine.
November 18, 1999 - MPR's "The Surveillance Society" series continues with a call-in program about workplace privacy. Studio guests are labor lawyers Greg Corwin of Corwin & Associates and Richard Ross of Frederickson & Byron.
November 18, 1999 - Live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring Oregon family therapist Robin Karr-Morse. Her speech is titled, "Tracing the Roots of Violence." She is the author of Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence.
November 19, 1999 - A compilation of the special reports from the MPR "The Surveillance Society" series.
November 19, 1999 - Part of MPR's "The Surveillance Society" series, a Live broadcast of the Minnesota Meeting, featuring a speech by Amitai Etzioni titled, "Privacy & The Internet Age: Why Less Privacy is Good for Us - and You." Etzioni is author the "The LImits of Privacy" and "The Spirit of Community: The Reinvention of American Society"
November 25, 1999 - A Thanksgiving Day special, "Giving Thanks: A Celebration of Fall, Food and Gratitude." Produced by MPR's John Birge, it includes a rare recording of actor Charles Laughton, essays by Bill Moyers, Donald Hall and Garrison Keillor, and the music of Aaron Copeland, Vivaldi and more.
December 1, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura addresses the Minnesota Meeting. Ventura's spseech was about his support for a unicameral legislature and answer questions from the Minnesota audience and a national Internet audience. 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.
December 2, 1999 - Special Live broadcast from the University of St. Thomas in downtown Minneapolis: The MPR Civic Journalism Initiative presents a Summit on "Minnesota in the Dot.Com Age." Where do we stand and where are we headed? Speakers include Ross DeVol of the Milken Institute, Randolph Court of the Progressive Policy Institute, and Jay Hare of PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
December 2, 1999 - Live special broadcast from the University of St. Thomas in downtown Minneapolis: The MPR Civic Journalism Initiative presents a Summit on "Minnesota in the Dot.Com Age." Keynote speaker is Minnesota native Ann Winblad, co-founder of Hummer Winblad Venture Partners in California. All the major business magazines call her part of the "Cyber Elite."
December 8, 1999 - Midday holds a conversation on homelessness in Minnesota with Sue Watlov Phillips of Elim Transitional Housing and legislative chair of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless; and with Herb Frey, program director for the Alliance of the Streets.