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 10, 1992 - As part of a Mainstreet Radio project, Midday broadcasts from Das Wurst Haus in Lanesboro and continues with a panel discussion on the balance of power and how to spend state government dollars. Panelists debate topics on taxes and take listener questions.
November 3, 1992 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with Walter Mondale, former vice president and U.S. senator, about what it feels like to be a candidate on Election Day.
October 27, 1992 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews member of Heart of the Beast, a performing arts theater in Minneapolis, about receiving money from National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support non-traditional projects and audiences.
October 21, 1992 - Curt Johnson, senior advisor to Governor Arne Carlson, talks about planned meeting with Governor and city mayors. With a struggling state economy, crime, safety, and funds to support cities are topics of discussion.
October 19, 1992 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with Larry Buboltz about meeting in Detroit Lakes with Senator Paul Wellstone regarding closed turkey plant in city and the attempts to sell business and reopen.
October 12, 1992 - MPR’s Leonard Lee reports on Governor Arne Carlson’s opposition to new taxes as a way to deal with state deficit.
October 8, 1992 - MPR’s Kitty Eisele reports on announcement of poet Derek Walcott as winner of Nobel Prize for Literature. Segment includes brief interview with Walcott.
October 8, 1992 - Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson visits Midday program for the first time. Carlson discusses the state budget struggles, taxes, statewide response to crime issues/gangs, and education, amongst other topics. Carlson also answers listener questions.
October 2, 1992 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten presents a summary report of the week since shooting death of Minneapolis police officer Jerry Haaf. Eichten shares various audio clips of police and activists speaking on the crime and its aftermath in the community.
September 30, 1992 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews nature filmmaker about the growing industry of shooting preserves, in which hunting enthusiasts can shoot more fowl. These preserves are mostly made up of private farmland.