NPR boots Morning Edition host

The St. Petersburg Times ^ | 3/24/2004 | Associated Press

[dawn53]

NEW YORK - National Public Radio has bounced Bob Edwards, host of Morning Edition since its inception in 1979, out of his job.

The radio network announced Tuesday that Edwards, 56, will become senior correspondent of NPR News at the end of April, with his reports being heard on various broadcasts.

Edwards said he was disappointed by the move, particularly that he won't be the host when the program celebrates its 25th anniversary in November.

"You have to figure it's going to happen someday and you get out before they do it," he said. "But I failed."

Edwards said he was not given a specific reason for his ouster. "It's the old "move the program in a new direction.' There was no Janet Jackson incident," he said.

Spokeswoman Laura Gross said NPR's programming and news management made the change because it is trying to refresh all the network's broadcasts.

"It's part of a natural evolution," she said. "A new host will bring new ideas and perspectives to the show. Bob's voice will still be heard; he'll still be a tremendous influence on the show. We just felt it was time for a change."

NPR's Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne will serve as interim co-hosts starting in May, until a permanent successor to Edwards is named.

Morning Edition is second to Rush Limbaugh's syndicated program as the most-listened-to national radio show.

NPR estimated Edwards has conducted 20,000 interviews during his years on the show. Edwards joined NPR in 1974, the network's third year of existence.

The network also announced that two-time Pulitzer Prize winner William K. Marimow, former editor of the Sun of Baltimore, will join NPR in a new position, managing editor for NPR News.

[Last modified March 24, 2004, 01:35:51]

[Loyal Buckeye]

Bob Edward's replacement: Al Franken

But only if he can get the hang of doing a throaty voice with a foreign accent (required of all NPR personnel) and, of course, he will need to throw in a lot of uh, uh, well, uh, uh's to demonstrate that he really is a very thoughtful expert.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Ah, yes, NPR

The only station to interrupt the news to read a poem.

[dennisw]

Really makes me mad as hell that n.p.r. takes your and my money to push its liberal agenda. Mostly kthe gay agenda as it seems about 15 to 20 percent of the dribble it presents are on this subject.

So true. I tuned for the first time in 6 months while driving  and subject matter was some gay grievance. I'm so sick of all this gay stuff in my face.

[Pharmboy]

First, thanks for your service.

You seem to be on a jihad against big corporations, but I think you should save some of your energy for big gummint--they're far worse. NPR is just a mouthpiece of democrap-socialist big gummint gun-grabbing victimhood-is-good crapola. How you don't see that is amazing.

[DH]

I regret to inform you that you never quit CONTRIBUTING to NPR. As a matter of fact you will do it again before April 15th of this year when you CONTRIBUTE to the government again.

[MrB]

NPR and its comprehensive news reporting methodology

derisive (look it up) laughter...

[trad_anglican]

National Public Radio has bounced Bob Edwards, host of Morning Edition since its inception in 1979, out of his job.

And all these years, I thought his name was Baub.

[dirtboy]

Anybody have any info on the new guy? Is he more conservative or more liberal?

He's as liberal as anyone else on NPR - which means he's as red as a baboon's ...

[Edit35]

Who the heck is David Schoebrun, and why should anyone in their right mind ever turn on NPR?

[MrB]

there must be something inherently wrong with the Left's ideology

That's pretty obvious. It becomes readily apparent when you hear them scream about Fox News. Their ideology is SO WEAK that it can't stand up to one CABLE news network and a couple of syndicated talk show hosts when they have ALL the other media spouting their ideological BS.

[MrB]

To those that seem SO anti big corporation and give big government a pass (or actually cheerlead it as a counter to big business) - I offer the following question: Which entity, big business or big government, has the LEGAL power to use DEADLY FORCE to impose its will on you?

[redwolf00]

Just so happens at the dinner table last night, my 18 yr son asked me if NPR stands for "National Public Rectum". It came up in a conversation about media bias. Not bad. . . .

[Renfield]

"...I quit listening to NPR several years ago, when I heard some idiot talking about a book about France he wrote named: "Me Talk Pretty One Day", or something like that...."

That would be David Sideras. My sister bought one of his books for me for my birthday or Christmas one year (without reading it first). It was too disgusting even for me. She was embarrassed when she found out what was in it.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Daniel Schorr helped make me a conservative.

He's the one who needs to be held accountable for all of the damage he's done. Truly, he must be held accountable. It's time.

[dawn53]

Your son's comment made me laugh.

Also reminded me of my family. Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility for discussion at the dinner table, LOL.

[sinkspur]

NPR? Yuck! Every time I try to listen to these dour shows, I get the picture of a funeral director trying to sell me a pre-need plan for Aunt Edna.

[OldSmaj]

That would be David Sideras.

Thanks.

I couldn't think of the name and it was beginning to bug me.

I wouldn't want to go thru the work day trying to remember the name of a sodomite, especially one that fit the absolute stereotype of one, with a swishy voice and a feminine lisp.

Never seen the guy, don't want to either, but I bet he's 6 foot 3, weighs 225 and has a permanent five o'clock shadow...yuck.

[BraveMan]

" . . . anti-intellectual cabal . . . "

Surrounding themselves with the aura of intelligence, intellectualism and comprehensiveness, the subtle agenda-serving bias imparted by NPR becomes all the more insidious. NPR is so very good at selling their agenda; that is what makes them dangerous. Little white lies cleverly wrapped in beautiful fabric . . .

Fault the anti-intellectual cabal of the Limbaugh, Hannity and Laura, et al for hammering a single point to death instead of moving on to the next . . .

[syriacus]

Yes. Odd, too, that when a conservative speaks up, he is being divisive.

I enjoy the irony of Kerry's saying he led our country out of the "divisive" Vietnam war.

You couldn't find many people more divisive, in the 70's, than Kerry was.

[philosofy123]

Actually ALL reporters on NPR are liberals. The good thing about NPR it is free of commercials, and its content is much more intellectual than the idiots on the driving hours radio (the love sponge/Howerd Sperm...).

It is a love hate relationship for me. I hate their liberal angle, but I love the level and depth of their reporting. When they get to beg for money "membership supported radio, you know!) I turn them off, and listen to CDs instead.