MPR News editor-at-large and retired host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live, special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday, which he hosted for more than 20 years.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
November 4, 2008 - Election night coverage part 2 (aircheck 8pm to 10pm)
November 4, 2008 - Election night coverage part 1 (aircheck 6pm to 8pm)
November 3, 2008 - Midday presents the final U.S. Senate debate, which took place just two days before Election Day. U.S. Senate candidates Republican Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, and the Independence Party's Dean Barkley gathered at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul for a fireworks filled debate. The MPR hosted event was moderated by Midday's Gary Eichten.
October 24, 2008 - Popular Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Carrol Henderson joins Midday to talk about his new book, "Birds in Flight: The Art and Science of How Birds Fly."
October 17, 2008 - Cathy Wurzer, Minnesota Public Radio Morning Edition host, highlights the history of one of Minnesota's most famous roads in her new book "Tales of the Road: Highway 61." She joins Midday to share her stories.
October 14, 2008 - As part of the Meet the Candidate series, Midday presents Minnesota 1st Congressional District debate between incumbent DFL Representative Tim Walz and his Republican challenger Brian Davis as they met in Mankato to debate the issues. Walz and Davis spar on topics of economy, energy, foreign policy, social security, and healthcare.
October 1, 2008 - On this Midday, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman and former CEO of Carlson, joins Midday to discuss her book How We Lead Matters: Reflections on a Life of Leadership. Nelson also answers listener questions.
September 30, 2008 - his episode of MPR's Voices of Minnesota features conversations with Art Aufderheide and Clarke Chambers, two detectives of sorts. Aufderheide is world famous for his study of mummies and the diseases that killed them. Chambers is a historian and the founder of a one-of-a-kind archive of social welfare history in this country.
September 17, 2008 - With Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG, and other financial institutions in turmoil on Wall Street, an unemployment rate at 6.1 percent (a five-year high), and a housing market still slumping, experts Chris Farrell and Louis Johnston join Midday to discuss the current economic crisis.
September 4, 2008 - As part of MPR special convention coverage, Gary Eichten broadcasts live from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention. As the RNC comes to a close, Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., prepares to accept his party's nomination. Eichten is joined by Todd Rapp, a Democrat political analyst; and Tom Horner, a Republican political analyst.