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.
October 21, 1977 - A report providing excerpts from National Meeting of State Committees for the Humanities conference held in Minneapolis. Representatives from state councils gathered to discuss the task of defining what their studies involve.
October 24, 1977 - MPR’s Bob Potter presents “The Role of the Courts in a Changing Society: Football and Antitrust,” a documentary that explores the lawsuit ‘MacKey v. National Football League,’ which illustrates how anti-trust law relates to professional sports and how the courts helped mold professional football.
October 26, 1977 - Economist and author John Kenneth Galbraith speaks before the National Town Hall meeting. The moderator is J. Anthony Lewis of the New York Times. National Town Hall Meeting
November 5, 1977 - Minneapolis social activist Marv Davidov and Congressman Don Fraser of Minneapolis, speaking to a group of DFL activists from the 1st and 4th Districts. Davidov and Fraser discuss the effectiveness of working for social change within and outside of established political parties. The two compared political philosophies, and how they pursue similar goals through different means.
November 7, 1977 - A report on the march and rally in support of striking steelworkers held in Virginia, Minnesota. Includes a sound portrait and interviews with members of rally. Among the speakers were Lloyd McBride, president of the International Steelworkers Union.
November 11, 1977 - Isabel Letelier, wife of slain Chilean economist Orlando Letelier, speaking in Minneapolis at a meeting sponsored by Minnesota Clergy and Laity Concerned and the United Church of Christ. Isabel speaks of her husband and conditions in Chile. Orlando Letelier was an economist in Chile during Allende regime, and was assassinated September 26th, when a bomb attached to his car exploded on a Washington, D.C. street. An associate of Letelier's, Ronni Moffitt, was also killed as the two drove to work at the Institute for Policy Studies.
November 11, 1977 - Shawn Kenny, an Irishman and a member of the Chile-Ireland Solidarity Committee, speaking in Minneapolis at a meeting sponsored by Minnesota Clergy and Laity Concerned and the United Church of Christ.
November 12, 1977 - On this regional public affairs program, Dorothy Hozza of the Minnesota Energy Agency; and Barb Weinschenker of the Center for Local Self-Reliance in Minneapolis, discuss financial incentives for home energy conservation.
November 14, 1977 - Capturing Minnesota history on tape is the subject of talks by Arthur L. Finnell, Assistant Director of the Southwest Minnesota Historical Center in Marshall; Kenneth Smemo, Director of the Northwest Minnesota Historical Center in Moorhead; and Ramedo J. Saucedo, Project Director of the Mexican-American History Project at the Minnesota Historical Society's annual convention. In 1975 the Minnesota Historical Society began a two-year Mexican-American History Project under the direction of Ramedo J. Saucedo to collect the historical resources of this ethnic group: personal papers, records of organizations, photographs, articles and other material, including 74 oral history interviews with people living throughout the state.
November 14, 1977 - Minnesota Public Radio presents reporter/producer Greg Barron’s “The Prairie Was Quiet,” a sound portrait of the American Prairie. MPR’s Dan Olson narrates the documentary as it recounts million year history of the prairie.