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]

[SuziQ]

Mostly the gay agenda as it seems about 15 to 20 percent of the dribble it presents are on this subject.

That's why, around our house, it's called National GAY Radio.

[tsomer]

" can't listen to Garrison Keillor for more than two minutes. His nose whistles ..."

I wonder if Garrison is a coke head? Cocaine will eat a hole in the septum and cause a whistle .

Then again, it's probably snot. He's very snotty.

[B Knotts]

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

I rather doubt that. NPR is on a lot of stations, but their ratings are tiny.

I'm guessing what they meant to say is it is the second-most widely distributed national radio show.

And, actually, it'd be #3 at best, since technically, Paul Harvey is still #1, AFAIK.

Second-most widely distributed long-form radio program, maybe.

[Tallguy]

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

Takes time to do a proper ideological vetting dontcha know?!

[weegee]

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

Yet taxpayers subsidize the "apolitical" 501c3 NPR broadcast whereas the private sector sponsors Rush Limbaugh 's program.

If the marketplace could sustain Morning Edition, then the private sector needs to do it (since it falls short of the apolitical requirement of a 501c3).

DEFUND THE LEFT.

[weegee]

Gee, and to think that years ago I thought NPR was "Fair & Balanced".

The left lies. Always.

Titling a radio program "All things considered" does not actually mean that they do consider all perspectives.

[weegee]

When they get to beg for money "membership supported radio, you know!) I turn them off, and listen to CDs instead.

Call them up. Tell them that you aren't giving another dime but that you want the free CD, coffee cup, or Nina Totebag. When they ask you for a donation tell them you already gave at the tax office.

[philosofy123]

Nina Totenberg! I hate her voice! But, I still have to listen. The intellectual discussions even though it is tilted to the left is much better than trash radio during my driving time.

[In_25_words_or_less]

I just wondered if they might be trying to take a slightly different, more moderate view in order to quell some of the criticism.

Bwahahaa! Heh heh. Whew. That was a good one! =)

[weegee]

Nina Totenberg! I hate her voice! But, I still have to listen. The intellectual discussions even though it is tilted to the left is much better than trash radio during my driving time.

Nina Totenberg has been known to spout trash that would get her fired at any other broadcast network:

PBS' Inside Washington (partially taxpayer financed television network) July 8, 1995:
Host Tina Gulland: "I don't think I have any Jesse Helms defenders here. Nina?"
ABC News/NPR Reporter Nina Totenberg: "Not me, I think he ought to be worried about what's going on in the Good Lord's mind, because if there is retributive justice, he'll get AIDS from a transfusion or one of his grandchildren will get it."

The left never did howl like they did about Michael Savage yelling at a prank phone caller. Who seems more vicious in wishing AIDS on another person (or even plural)?

[Renfield]

No. He's about 5'2", judging from his photo on the front of the book, and cleanshaven. Little bitty fellow.

[Renfield]

Oh, and I misspelled his name, too. It's Sedaris (Greek name).

[TC Rider]

I heard a host on one of their weekend whinefests declare that Bush had vetoed the renewal of the Assault Weapon Ban.

An utter and outright lie, since:

1. No extension has been passed by the Senate

2. Bush has not vetoed any legislation since taking office (too bad he didn't veto Campaign Finance Reform)

[HIDEK6]

That fallacious dogma of the doctrinaire anti-intellectual cabal of the Limbaugh, Hannity and Laura (whats-her-name, the lawyer) and their local clones who serve their agenda by constantly slamming NPR and its comprehensive news reporting methodology.

And?

Does the verb come in a later post?

[Joe Boucher]

That's crap there middie.
I am sick and tired of fag crap being thrust onto the national agenda to make happy a small portion of the populace.
It is called pandering.
N.p.r. like n.o.w. and other narrow based groups that push their agenda to try to make it the norm, acceptable. It is not. It is immoral and unacceptable.
I like to quote a scene from the famous hockey movie Slap Shot.
Paul Newman,(no ranting conservative) speaking to some stupid female that inherited a hockey team that wants to disolve the team to take a tax break leaving about 25 folks out of work who is raising a less then manley son,"What are you gonna do when you come home and fags got his (to paraphrase) member in your sons mouth?"
This is the kind of nonsense moral folks reel against.
It is what perverts and sickoooos espouse.
IT is also what n.p.r. is seemingly pushing.

[Springman]

Holy S**t!! I thought I was the only one to hear that!! Glad that I wasn't hearing things!!!

Must take a tape of Rush when I drive my wife to work on Saturday.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Juan is a fair voice? Yow! I vote for burning down their stations right now - why wait for a pretext beyond their grotesque defrauding of taxpayers and the constant drumbeat of socialism.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Seconded.

[dljordan]

Their humor is just more highly refined and sensitive than ours. They're making jokes all the time you just don't understand being the low-life, cretinous, knuckle-dragging conservative that you are.

[dljordan]

Their humor is just more highly refined and sensitive than ours. They're making jokes all the time you just don't understand being the low-life, cretinous, knuckle-dragging conservative that you are.