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.
June 14, 2006 - As Minnesotans prepare to say farewell to spring, Minnesota Public Radio's favorite weatherman stops by to discuss Minnesota's weather, past and present. Part 1 of 2Mark Seeley: Meteorologist and climatologist at the University of Minnesota. Seeley is the author of the "Minnesota Weather Almanac."
June 14, 2006 - As Minnesotans prepare to say farewell to spring, Minnesota Public Radio's favorite weatherman stops by to discuss Minnesota's weather, past and present. Part 2 of 2Mark Seeley: Meteorologist and climatologist at the University of Minnesota. Seeley is the author of the "Minnesota Weather Almanac."
June 20, 2006 - Historian Robert Dallek says it's not so much a president's actions that make him memorable, it's his words. Dallek discussed the power of John F. Kennedy's words in a recent appearance at the Kennedy Library in Boston.
June 29, 2006 - Speaking in St. Cloud Wednesday, David Broder, the Washington Post's national political correspondent, said that the baby boomers have proved to be bad at governing the United States. Broder says boomer politicians are too focused at re-fighting the battles of the past. Given at League of Minnesota Cities conference.
July 28, 2006 - A new theory called the "long tail" tries to explain how the Internet is changing the way the world does business. A new book by that title was recently published, and it has inspired some hearty criticism as well as praise. Chris Anderson: Author of "The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More." He is also editor of Wired Magazine.
August 16, 2006 - Voices of Minnesota visits two activists: Dr. Steve Miles and Laura Waterman Wittstock. Miles is author of a new book about the role American physicians played in torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wittstock is the first American Indian to win the coveted Louis W. Hill Jr. fellowship in philanthropy at the University of Minnesota.
August 30, 2006 - Why is History so important?Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough answered that and many other questions in a recent appearance at the Aspen Institute.
September 1, 2006 - As part of MPR Day at the Fair, former governors Wendell Anderson, Al Quie, and Arne Carlson talk politics at the Minnesota State Fair.
September 13, 2006 - Toni Morrison, who has won both the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, spoke about her writing Sept. 5 at Macalester College in St. Paul. Her talk was part of the inaugural lecture series for the college's Institute for Global Citizenship.
September 18, 2006 - MPR’s Stephen Smith moderates a civil rights panel discussion with an author, an activist, a teacher and a former vice president of the United States at the Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis.