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.
January 3, 2000 - A speech about the impact of the global economy, by Benjamin Barber, director of the Walt Whitman Center for the Culture and Politics of Democracy at Rutgers University. He is the author of the best-seller Jihad versus McWorld.
December 31, 1999 - We've been talking about it for months- even years, and finally we're on the brink of the Year 2000. Today, Jon Gordon, MPR reporter and producer of Future Tense; and Mike O'Connor, retired Internet pioneer and volunteer Y2K advisor for St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, provide last minute Y2K tips and take questions. We also monitor what's happening when the clock strikes 12 around the world.
December 31, 1999 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin resigned this morning. Melor Sturua of the University of Minnnesota Humphrey Institute and a columnist for Isvestia; Nick Hayes, Hamline University History Professor, and Patrick Dale, St. Olaf College professor, join to discuss.
December 29, 1999 - A "Minnesota Century" special - reports from Minnesota at the turn of the Century, 100 years ago.
December 29, 1999 - Midday continues its year in review with Chris Gilbert, Political Science Professor and department Chair at Gustavus Adolphus College. Gilbert will discuss the major political issues and events of 1999 and will talk about the presidential race and other important political stories to follow in 2000.
December 28, 1999 - Join host Gary Eichten for an end-of-the-year conversation with Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell. He'll discuss economics in 1999 and will give his stock market prediction for 2000.
December 28, 1999 - An end-of-the-year conversation with Governor Jesse Ventura about what the major issues facing Minnesota in 1999 were and what does the new millennium hold for the governor and the state?
December 27, 1999 - As part of our Voices of Minnesota series, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles Internationally acclaimed singer and actor Joe Carter, who talks about his life and career.
December 24, 1999 - Rabbi Harold Kushner's speech on how to make a difference with the rest of your life. Rabbi Kushner was in the Twin Cities this fall to give a lecture on What to Do With the Rest of Your Life. Rabbi Kushner is the author of the best seller, Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. He is also in wide demand as a lecturer and this fall, he spoke at the Academy for Faith Exploration, an educational outreach program sponsered by the Wayzata Community Church.
December 21, 1999 - A look at Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and how it's shaped our view of Christmas and charity. Features a 1940 version of A Christmas Carol featuring Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge. Our review of A Christmas Carol was written and produced by John Rabe, with assistance from Kara Fiegenschuh. It included selections from To Charles, With Love, a special production created and produced by Bridget Carpenter, the NEA-PCG playwright in residence of the Guthrie Theatre. We heard My Carol by Doris Baizley, read by Sue Scott; and excerpts of Octoclaus by Eric Ehn, read by Dan Gorenstein; and A Christmas Golem by David Grimm, read by Steve Yoakam.