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.
September 8, 1986 - On this MPR Journal program, a collection of reports, interviews, and a news rundown hosted by Gary Eichten.
August 28, 1986 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Larry Williams, a Twin Cities cab driver, about the danger and difficulty of driving a taxi cab.
August 11, 1986 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Dave Bishop, District 33B Minnesota House representative, about his concerns on backlog of Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
August 1, 1986 - Ed Wahlberg, a striking steelworker leader at U.S. Steel taconite plant in the Mesabi Iron Range, talks about the misleading public perception regarding wages at plant.
June 2, 1986 - On this cover story of MPR Journal, a look at possible end of the nine month Hormel strike in Austin, Minnesota. MPR reporter Mike Mulcahy provides details of Federal District Court Judge Edward Devitt’s injunction on United Food and Commercial Workers Union local P-9, effectively ending strike. Even with court decision, some strikers are determined to continue fight against Hormel officials.
April 29, 1986 - Jim Gasperini, the base camp manager for the Steger expedition. Gasperini shares with MPR’s Gary Eichten how they are tracking group and concerns of open water near North Pole.
April 28, 1986 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks Twins baseball with Minneapolis Star & Tribune sports commentator Howard Sinker. The two discuss the Metrodome roof sinking in during the 8th inning of April 27th game, the poor performance of the relief pitchers, and various other Twins players.
April 11, 1986 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten catches up with MPR reporter Mike Mulcahy on the status at Austin Hormel plant after a day of brief violence between strikers and police. A demonstration blocking the road to plant devolved into a conflict between strikers, workers, and local police.
January 30, 1986 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten gets commentary from MPR sports commentator J.G. Preston about how the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team will close out season after three Minnesota players were arrested on sexual assault charges in Madison, Wisconsin.
January 27, 1986 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Rick Majerus, Marquette University men’s basketball coach, about the state of college sports. Majerus shares his views on negative impact of money in Division 1 basketball, adjustment players make in balancing sport and school, and freshman eligibility.