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.
March 13, 1998 - Pledge week testimonials from listeners are heard throughout the program.
March 13, 1998 - National Public Radio's Ray Suarez, host of "Talk of the Nation,” is interviewed via satellite from Washington DC. Topics include Lewinsky scandal, state of journalism, and talk radio. Suarez also answers listener questions.
March 12, 1998 - Minnesota's two Olympic hockey gold medal winners, Alana Blahoski and Jenny Schmidgall, talk about their Olympic experiences and the future of women's hockey.
March 10, 1998 - Midday continues a second hour with Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, who answers listener questions about the weather. Topics include weather guide, ball lightning, and weather cycles.
March 10, 1998 - Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, answers listener questions about the weather. Topics include El Niño, and the warm winter.
March 9, 1998 - Midday continues a second hour with veterinarian Kate An Hunter, who answers listener questions about dogs and cats and other small animals. She is a veterinarian at Carver Lake Veterinary Center.
March 9, 1998 - Veterinarian Kate An Hunter answers listener questions about dogs and cats and other small animals. She is a veterinarian at Carver Lake Veterinary Center.
March 6, 1998 - Minnesota State Representative Gene Pelowski, advanced placement social studies teacher at Winona Senior High School, and Bob Wedl, commissioner of the Department of Children, discuss the new "Profile of Learning" standards requirement. Pelowski and Wedl also answer listener questions.
March 3, 1998 - A history on the evolution in Minnesota's political system from University of Minnesota historian Hy Berman. The caucus and primary designs are detailed.
February 25, 1998 - A Twin Cities speech by public radio host Ira Glass, host of "This American Life." He spoke as part of the MPR Broadcast Journalist Series, and talked about radio story-telling.