Bob Edwards taken off NPR 'Morning Edition'

Lexington Herald-Liberal ^ | 24 March 2004 | Andy Mead

[fightin kentuckian]

Kentucky native Bob Edwards says he is disappointed at National Public Radio's decision to force him from its popular Morning Edition newsmaga-zine.

"I've had better days," Edwards said yesterday in a telephone interview from his home in Arlington, Va.

"I feel like I would like to continue hosting Morning Edition, but I'm glad they didn't fire me."

Edwards said he was told two weeks ago that his days on Morning Edition were numbered. "I got called into an office and told 'we're making a change,'" he said.

NPR announced yesterday that Edwards would become a senior correspondent, filing reports that will be heard on several of the network's programs. Edwards said, however, that salary and assignment negotiations still are incomplete.

The decision that Edwards would leave Morning Edition was made by NPR's news and programming departments, spokeswoman Laura Gross said.

"It's just sort of a progress of evolution of our shows," she said. "And we figure as long as the show is doing well right now ... it's just time for a change."

Gross told the Associated Press that a new host "will bring new ideas and perspectives" to the show.

Edwards, 56, has been host of Morning Edition since its first broadcast in November 1979. He was "borrowed" from another NPR program, but never went back.

Morning Edition is carried on weekday mornings by 600 stations across the country. It has 13 million listeners, making it the second-most listened to national radio program in the country, behind The Rush Limbaugh Show.

Edwards will continue on Morning Edition until the end of April. After that, NPR's Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne will be interim hosts until a successor is named.

Inskeep, 35, is a 1990 graduate of Morehead State University and worked as a sportscaster for two Kentucky radio stations.

Edwards said Inskeep has "a really good shot" at getting the job, but added, "If they have someone in mind, they certainly haven't let on."

Roger Chesser, acting general manager of the University of Kentucky's WUKY-91.3 FM, said Edwards, who is from Louisville, has been a personal friend and a friend of the station.

"Mornings are not going to be the same without Bob Edwards," Chesser said. "For 25 years, as long as I can remember, pretty much, he has been a friendly and familiar voice in the morning."

But, Chesser said, with the world becoming a more dangerous place, he will continue to listen to Morning Edition.

Edwards has awakened at 1 a.m. on weekdays for nearly 25 years to prepare for Morning Edition. He will be able to sleep later after April, but yesterday, that didn't seem like a good thing.

"I enjoy doing the program and wish I were doing it forever," he said.

[fightin kentuckian]

I guess they thought he was too conservative. lol. Does anyone know if his temporary replacements (Inskeep and Gross) are anymore liberal than Edwards, if that's possible.

[The Shrew]

RightTalk ping!

Regards,

TS

[fightin kentuckian]

Maybe Al Frankens show fell through and NPR might put him in that spot. Half hartedly kidding but I do wonder if this has anything to do with the presidential election.

NPR could be planning to put in a Bush basher. Just me thinking out loud.

[Last Dakotan]

I'll miss him - and that baritone voice.

[Digger]

Who listens to their garbage (NPR) here at FR? They were over the edge when Reagan came in as pres.

[farmfriend]

It has 13 million listeners, making it the second-most listened to national radio program in the country, behind The Rush Limbaugh Show.

Does anyone know what Rush's numbers are? I'm too lazy to look it up.

[Plutarch]

I think his voice quality has suffered. He sounds like he has a medical condition.

[churchillbuff]

Edwards, 56,

That's put-em-to-pasture age in today's corporate America - - - even at "sensitive" NPR.

[Yo-Yo]

Now if they would only get rid of that windbag that always manages to raise my blood pressure with every commentary: Daniel Schorr

[demlosers]

Does anyone know what Rush's numbers are? I'm too lazy to look it up.

I think somewhere between 20 - 25 million.

[farmfriend]

So Rush is not only out if front but he is way out in front. Not surprising really. Thanks.

[afraidfortherepublic]

NPR could be planning to put in a Bush basher

You mean to keep the other Bush bashers company?

[Keith]

yea...he's writing his tell-all book, co-authored by Richard Clarke.

[radiohead]

That's put-em-to-pasture age

That was my first thought as well. Especially when you look at the age of his 'temporary' replacement.

[Yo-Yo]

That's put-em-to-pasture age

That was my first thought as well. Especially when you look at the age of his 'temporary' replacement.

But to be fair, if he is now 56 and he started in 1979, he started at the tender age of 31. So a 35 year old replacement is not out of line. Also, media and entertainment have been exempted from age discrimination laws.

[old-ager]

I somehow dialled our local NPR station a few months ago and was surprised to hear "old" Bob still on. The entire crazy crew is liberal, but what's happening to Bob doesn't smell right to me. Pull the plug on NPR.

[I got the rope]

Who in the hell is Bob Edwards? I'm not kidding...I've never heard of him. Maybe it's because he SUCKS!

[birbear]

"It's just sort of a progress of evolution of our shows," she said. "And we figure as long as the show is doing well right now ... it's just time for a change."

In what school of success do you EVER change what's working for you?

Granted not changing things breeds complacency and can lead to mediocrity -- if there's no competition.

I can just imagine somebody going up to Rush: "Uhm... Mr. Limbaugh.. you have 20-25 million listeners a week. You've made millions of dollars for yourself and for people who have had faith in you. You've been celebrated as the ultimate talk show host of all time. Uhm... but.. can you change your show a little? Oh, I dunno... how about some singing cats or dancing dolphins? Uhm... hello? Hello?"

Jimminy crickets don't people know anything any more?

[radiohead]

Also, media and entertainment have been exempted from age discrimination laws.

But to be fair, if he is now 56 and he started in 1979, he started at the tender age of 31. So a 35 year old replacement is not out of line

I'm not so sure of that. It is one thing to say a person isn't suitable for a part; it is also one thing to have physical requirements for a job, such as an airline pilot. However, I would be surprised if the entire industry got a blanket exemption from age discrimination laws.

I did a very quick search on age discrimination and wasn't able to find anything that exempted the media. I have only had a cursory exposure to age discrimination (I used to have a general civil practice), so maybe someone can enlighten the both of us as to whether the media is exempt. Perhaps you can cite the provision upon which you base your statement that this industry is exempt?

That said (to use a cliche bashed elsewhere on FR), replacing an older employee w/a younger one is not automatically discrimination, no matter what it looks like.

btw- I'm 50. If someone thinks they can replace my experience and expertise w/someone who is 35, they have seriously redefined the job description. I don't think your example holds. The age the man started work is of no import. </lawyer voice>

I'm not looking to start an argument, just curious as to the law's coverage.

[Fry_Daddy]

Haven't listened to Morning Edition for maybe twenty years. Always suspected Bob was liberal, but the show I won't forget included a vocal expert who was on to discuss voice qualities of presidential candidates.

It was the year of Reagan vs. Mondull, and to my surprise the two spoke glowingly of Reagan's voice and had nothing but derisive comments for Mondull's. And it didn't seem like simple constructive/ instructive commentary, either.

In fact the two took a very superior tone (well deserved, for Bob, as he had the best pipes in the business) that seemed a little mean.

I can't to this day remember any other Morning Edition show but I got such a kick out of these two reputed liberals being catty about their candidate, I won't forget this one.