For many who have listened to the airwaves over the previous decades, Gary Eichten’s voice is synonymous to Minnesota Public Radio. The retired MPR News editor-at-large Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at MPR, including news director, special events producer, and station manager. He routinely 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!).
It all began on April Fool’s Day in 1967, when Eichten started his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at Collegeville’s KSJR, MPR’s first station. He became the station’s one-man news department and quickly found that turning up his headphones forced him to speak more intimately, which gave him that radio voice.
In the fall of 1992, Eichten moved from hosting the regional late-afternoon edition of All Things Considered to hosting Midday. In his new role, Eichten personified the art of hosting, a tradition begun by the program’s previous host, Bob Potter. It also solidified Gary’s distinct tone and insightful questions that listeners came to hear as being MPR.
As Midday host, Eichten let his guests answer those questions and sought to understand their responses. With daily early morning research, his respectful but direct on-air style, and assistance from his long-time producer Sara Meyer, Eichten found himself making memorable radio…from a poignant sign-off of the original regional “All Things Considered,” a live on-air moment with a contentious Governor Ventura, to even a pledge drive.
Among the honors Eichten received during his MPR career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award for Best Local News Program and the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, Eichten was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame.
Simply put, Mr. Eichten is a Minnesota treasure, on and off the air.
May 21, 1993 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews George Latimer, former St. Paul mayor, about his political reflections and local politics. Topics include his run for mayor, convention outcomes, and endorsements.
May 24, 1993 - National Public Radio's Susan Stamberg talks with Midday’s Gary Eichten about her work at NPR and her new book entitled Talk: NPR's Susan Stamberg Considers All Things. Stamberg also answers listener questions.
June 2, 1993 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone visits the MPR studios to talk health care and answer listener questions. Wellstone advocates for a single-payer healthcare system as a universal healthcare model.
June 3, 1993 - Don Fraser, mayor of Minneapolis, details his efforts to get businesses to hire teenagers as part of a summer jobs program.
June 8, 1993 - Dr. Carol Eagle, head of Child and Adolescent Psychology at Montefiore in New York, discusses self-esteem issues of adolescent girls. Topics include scientific study, parental impact, physical changes, and societal influences. Eagle also answers listener questions.
June 11, 1993 - With the renewed interest in dinosaurs upon the release of book/film “Jurassic Park,” Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with studio guest Robert Sloan, a professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Minnesota. Sloan has researched dinosaurs for many years and talks about the causes of their evolution & extinction.
June 22, 1993 - A Midday interview with St. Paul Mayor Jim Scheibel about National Urban Peace and Justice Summit to address gang violence in the community. Summit is being held at Mount Olivet Baptist, in St. Paul.
July 2, 1993 - Chuck Ruhr, owner of a Minneapolis ad agency, reflects on the Aug. 13, 1973 Time magazine promoting the state. The issue included a cover shot ("The good life in Minnesota") and six-page spread to Minnesota ("A state that works").
July 5, 1993 - At halfway point of 1993 MLB season, local sports commentator sees the Minnesota Twins season going nowhere…except last place.
July 6, 1993 - Dave Nimmer, former reporter for the Minneapolis Star and WCCO-TV and a journalism teacher at the University of St. Thomas, answers listener questions about print and broadcast media. The topic of negative public perceptions of media and the growing competition is the focus of program.