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 19, 1980 - Sonia Johnson, feminist and equal rights amendment (ERA) supporter, speaking at the University of Minnesota. Johnson was excommunicated from the Mormon church after she spoke out for ERA and against church political activities against ERA. Her address is part of a country tour in trying to rally renewed support for the Equal Rights Amendment. In her speech, she says she took on the political arm of the church and lost - a political arm that she says is actively campaigning against passage of the ERA and using deception as a key tool.
January 23, 1980 - Jeannie Wiegum, president of the Association for Non-Smokers Rights (ANSR), discusses the Minnesota Clean Air Act. Call-in program.
January 24, 1980 - Governor Al Quie delivers his second "state of the state" address to a joint session of the Minnesota legislature. Reaction to the speech follows.
January 26, 1980 - Dr. Gerry Webers, a geology professor from Macalester College in Saint Paul, led a scientific expedition of over 150 researchers to the in the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica. There, using Camp Macalester as a base of operations, the scientists gathered information on the continents weather, magnetic structure and past life. Webers and others believe that Antarctica was once a part of Africa. And, to support their belief, they have found fossils of animals and plants that could only have lived in a climate much warmer than that of the South Pole's. For about the next 18 minutes, we hear a portion of a tape journal that Webers sent back from the Antarctic.
January 26, 1980 - William Driver of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Arts Alliance talks about a recent major study on arts and their effects on the urban economy done by the Alliance as part of a nationwide study.
January 30, 1980 - Experimental filmmaker Ken Jacobs spoke with MPR reporter Nancy Fushan commenting on his description of filmmaking as a salvage business.
January 31, 1980 - Minnesota House of Representative Majority Caucus Leader Irv Anderson presents a DFL response to Governor Al Quie's State of the State address.
January 31, 1980 - Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Nicholas Coleman presents a DFL response to Governor Al Quie's State of the State address.
February 2, 1980 - Donald Fraser delivers his first state of the city address as mayor of Minneapolis before the city council and other elected officials.
February 2, 1980 - MPR's Rich Dietman talks with University of Minnesota future studies professor Arthur Harkins and Marlene Goldsmith, and Australian doctoral student at the University in future studies, about what the future, particularly the 1980s, will bring.