NPR Yanks Top-Rated Show Host ('Morning Edition' Ousts Bob Edwards)

Washington Post ^ | March 24, 2004 | Bob Thompson

[jalisco555]

Bob Edwards, who for 25 years has been the signature voice of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," is being removed from the show by NPR managers, effective April 30. "Morning Edition" is the No. 1 morning show on radio, with almost 13 million listeners.

"I would have loved to have stayed with 'Morning Edition,' " said Edwards, 56. "But it's not my candy store."

An NPR announcement that he would become a senior correspondent for NPR News was premature, he said yesterday.

NPR executive vice president Ken Stern called the change part of a "natural evolution" that "had to do with the changing needs of our listeners." It was "a programming decision about the right sound," said Stern, who expressed confidence that Edwards would remain with the network.

[jalisco555]

Sounds like Bob is being unceremoniously dumped for no discernible reason. So much for liberal compassion and fellowship.

[alex]

He has to turn around and make big bucks on tell all book.

[EggsAckley]

Maybe he's done some growing up and is not Liberal enough for them now.

[alex]

He has to turn around and make big bucks on tell all book.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

A non-Washington BLEEP article, with a picture of Bob, here:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/sns-celebrity-0324edwards,0,2528671.story?coll=sfla-entertainment-headlines"

Sounds like Bob rebuffed the advances of the wrong socialist radio hag.

[Old Sarge]

Strange. With that McDonalds endowment, they should be able to afford him.

[jalisco555]

Strange. With that McDonalds endowment, they should be able to afford him.

In light of the widow Kroc's generosity why is it that we taxpayers have to keep supporting NPR?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Perhaps he wasn't sufficiently left-wing for NPR.

[southernnorthcarolina]

NPR executive vice president Ken Stern called the change part of a "natural evolution"...

Howard Stern's brother, perhaps? That would explain a lot.

[Khurkris]

I think that some of the posts about Edwards not being liberal enough are close to the truth.

The guy is a very talented interviewer.

His weekly interviews with Red Barber were a real treasure to listen to.

[dirtboy]

Sounds like Bob is being unceremoniously dumped for no discernible reason.

Probably for cost-cutting reasons. I believe he made a six-figure salary.

[N. Theknow]

Ken Stern called the change part of a "natural evolution"

Since it is NPR it certainly wasn't by "intelligent design."

[jalisco555]

His weekly interviews with Red Barber were a real treasure to listen to.

I agree. Red was the best thing about Morning Edition. When he died I stopped listening altogether.

[CFC__VRWC]

Sounds like Bob is being unceremoniously dumped for no discernible reason. So much for liberal compassion and fellowship.

The image that comes into my mind is a typical sneering lunch time conversation at the NPR office, and this guy says something along the lines of "Not all Republicans talk in tongues or handle snakes."

Another participant thinks, "Oh my God, he said something positive about Republicans!" This person then goes to the boss and whines about how "offensive" the remark was.

The rest, as they say, we can read about in the paper.

[rogueleader]

This is just so unbelievably egregious. You know, if they did a "favorability" poll on journalists, here's where they'd be:

Bob Edwards: 90%
Tom Brokaw: 55%
Wolf Blitzer: 40%
Peter Jennings: 20%
Dan Rather 10%
Leslie Stahl: 5% (won't even go on Imus to defend self)

And Bob is the one who gets the ax. This isn't about gaining listenership, it's about politics. They want a grinder who can take on Limbaugh.

Hey Bob! Screw them back!

Pull a Chris Wallace and join Fox News!!!

[Kenny500c]

They obviously need some rabid anti-bush lackey in there in time for the election campaign.

[Snuffington]

Hmm... and Howard Stern has turned all anti-Bush, and says he might end his show. And we know NPR loves profanity and pornography, provided its portrayed as "art" or "free speech."

Sounds like Howard is moving uptown!

(P. S. To those tempted to take that seriously, it was a joke.)

[jonatron]

He must've been to mainstream for National Proletariat Radio.

[ontos-on]

I have not listened to NPR in 15 years. But Edwards was the most palatable. I really suspect that Edwards was "too male" for them. Sometimes he might sound like the "sensitive new age man" of the early 90's, but I would imagine that the network is probably teeming with differently oriented people run amok. Edwards no longer fits in [even though he probably is not the one that has changed]. I have not been listening lately, as I said, but I wonder how far I really am from the truth.

[Fifth Business]

His weekly interviews with Red Barber were a real treasure to listen to.

And he genuinely loved country music. I'll miss the guy. He was the best thing they had.