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 13, 1978 - Dr. Allen Hymes, cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Usharbudh Arya, Director of Minneapolis Meditation Center and Charles Bates, Director Twin Cities Yoga Society, discuss total health.
June 17, 1978 - On this regional public affairs program, an examination on the problem of arson and what can be done about it. The Citizens League issued a report on arson in the Twin Cities, and the crime’s impact on the community.
July 4, 1978 - Bruce Hilton, a Methodist minister, speaking on bioethics at North Dakota State University. Hilton talks about birth, life and death. Topics include moral dilemmas in medical technology growth and genetic engineering.
July 5, 1978 - Midday presents speeches by two education professionals at the Rural Life Institute at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota. The topic was "Why Save Rural Schools."
July 8, 1978 - The case before the court was an appeal of a Ramsey County District Court ruling that a Minnesota law regarding a new sports stadium is unconstitutional Recordings of oral arguments heard by the Minnesota Supreme Court recently on the constitutionality of the stadium law are heard. These recordings were made under an experiment which allows reporters to tape court proceedings.
July 10, 1978 - As part of an Insight series, MPR’s John Ydstie produces a sound portrait titled “Migrant Series, Part 1.” Ydstie follows the daily life of Guillermo Flores, a migrant worker in the sugar beet fields of rural Minnesota.
July 10, 1978 - R. Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller addresses the Minnesota Press Club on Buckminster Fuller Day in Minnesota, so proclaimed by Governor Rudy Perpich.
July 12, 1978 - Dr. Ronald Cranford, of Hennepin County Medical Center; and Mr. John Markert, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, discuss the concept of brain death, and the problems in defining death. Both men have testified before the Minnesota legislature on the brain death issue, and Dr. Cranford was a consultant on the recent Stacey Ellison case in St. Paul in which the child was "brain dead" though still breathing with the help of a respirator. Cranford has been active in work to arrive at a definition of death. John Markert has opposed efforts to allow the use of brain death as a legal definition for determining when life has ended.
July 14, 1978 - Dr. Robert Good, President of Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute, talks with MPR medical reporter Rich Dietman about cancer research. Good begins by describing recent advances in the treatment of cancer. He also speaks of antigens, compounds that cause the production of antibody; a substance which the body uses to fight and destroy matter it judges to be foreign and a threat.
July 14, 1978 - Glenn Maxham tells the story of Silver Islet and of long-lost silver along the shores of Lake Superior. Miners were known to “high-grade” on the small island in the late 1800s, tying chucks of silver ore onto logs and floating them out onto Lake Superior in hopes of retrieving them later.