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Bob Edwards and politics at NPR
Apr. 13th, 2004 08:42 amDid you know that Bob Edwards is "leaving" as host of NPR's Morning Edition?
No?
Neither does anyone else. I heard about it on my daily perusal of the congressional record http://thomas.loc.gov/r108/r108.html (choose the senate transcript for April 8th, it is item numer 45, hyperlinking isn't possible due to the nature of their cgi engine.)
A check of NPR's website finds the rumor to be true:
http://www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman/2004/040407.html
NPR is publicly silent on the reasons for Edward's departure or termination or reassignment or whatever, the Ombudsman won't comment, except to post some conspiracy theories posited by some of the email he's recieved, saying that it is somehow related to a change in the program... a program that is the highest rated show in it's slot, and NPR programming's crown jewel:
Edwards himself seemed suprised:
This is all spurred perhaps by a much more corporate NPR, which in October of 2003, received a huge donation from the estate of Joan Kroc, widow of Ray Kroc. (If you can't recall, Ray Kroc was the man who bought MacDonalds from the MacDonald brothers, and marketed it into an unholy corporate monster,) and received underwriting by Wal-Mart, which received a four part extended glorified commercial on NPR in the form of an "in depth" exploration of its culture and corporate philosophies last year. With this money in its till, it seems that NPR feels like it can make sweeping changes to programming that it could not make earlier, like ignoring popular opinion in order to oust portions of the programming lineup that seem wacky, overtly liberal, or simply old. Earlier moves included ousting a popular mid afternoon show featuring quirky interviews and unusual science, The Todd Mundt Show in favor of a much more sanitized program whose content is literally co-produced by Microsoft.
NPR says that the move was motivated by pressure from "local partners." But interviews with Edwards have made it clear that the main reason is the producer's intent to make the show more like other national news programs, where the idea of a single entrenched anchor is modifed to two or three "roving" regional anchors:
from here
If you like Bob Edwards (I do,) then you might want to let your voice be heard, you do have a say, this is still a PUBLIC institution, it isn't CNN, CBS, or any other profit driven corporate animal, regardless of the opinion of NPR's management. We don't need another "Today" show:
www.savebobedwards.com
Or you can email to Jeffrey Dvorkin, NPR's ombudsman: ombudsman@npr.org
Snail Mail:
National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20001
Or you can even telephone: 202-513-3245
No?
Neither does anyone else. I heard about it on my daily perusal of the congressional record http://thomas.loc.gov/r108/r108.html (choose the senate transcript for April 8th, it is item numer 45, hyperlinking isn't possible due to the nature of their cgi engine.)
A check of NPR's website finds the rumor to be true:
http://www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman/2004/040407.html
NPR is publicly silent on the reasons for Edward's departure or termination or reassignment or whatever, the Ombudsman won't comment, except to post some conspiracy theories posited by some of the email he's recieved, saying that it is somehow related to a change in the program... a program that is the highest rated show in it's slot, and NPR programming's crown jewel:
NPR executive vice president Ken Stern explained that getting rid of Edwards was part of "a natural evolution." He says that it was "a programming decision about the right sound."from the congressional record referenced above
Edwards himself seemed suprised:
"They want somebody else. They're taking the program in a new direction. Those aren't my words," Edwards said Tuesday. "I am not totally clear what it is I am going to be doing, but whatever it is, I'm looking forward to doing it. I'm trying to focus on the positive."
This is all spurred perhaps by a much more corporate NPR, which in October of 2003, received a huge donation from the estate of Joan Kroc, widow of Ray Kroc. (If you can't recall, Ray Kroc was the man who bought MacDonalds from the MacDonald brothers, and marketed it into an unholy corporate monster,) and received underwriting by Wal-Mart, which received a four part extended glorified commercial on NPR in the form of an "in depth" exploration of its culture and corporate philosophies last year. With this money in its till, it seems that NPR feels like it can make sweeping changes to programming that it could not make earlier, like ignoring popular opinion in order to oust portions of the programming lineup that seem wacky, overtly liberal, or simply old. Earlier moves included ousting a popular mid afternoon show featuring quirky interviews and unusual science, The Todd Mundt Show in favor of a much more sanitized program whose content is literally co-produced by Microsoft.
NPR says that the move was motivated by pressure from "local partners." But interviews with Edwards have made it clear that the main reason is the producer's intent to make the show more like other national news programs, where the idea of a single entrenched anchor is modifed to two or three "roving" regional anchors:
from here
Yet Kernis says his confidence in the decision stems partly from an encounter with Edwards about a year ago. Edwards made it clear then, not for the first time, that he would strongly resist sharing his position. Edwards acknowledged his outspokenness in rejecting the idea when Kernis had Renée Montagne and Steve Inskeep fill in for Edwards while he was on vacation about a year ago.
"I told them we should not have a co-host program," he said, recalling a meeting with Kernis. "I’d gotten used to working alone." Kernis had not formally proposed a co-host arrangement, but, says Edwards, "It is a vanity thing, I am ashamed to say, but we do have egos and that is why we go on the air."
Had Edwards embraced the idea, would he still have his job? "Had he said it a year ago, probably," Kernis said. "Maybe."
One possibility NPR is considering, Kernis said, is for "Morning Edition" to have two hosts, one in Washington and the other in Los Angeles. NPR’s afternoon show, "All Things Considered," has three hosts, one of whom is rotated into the field to do reporting.
Kernis cited the tradition of traveling news anchors such as Dan Rather and Peter Jennings in describing the type of host he envisions for "Morning Edition," one with a more multifaceted role than Edwards had.
"Our hosts are more than news anchors," Kernis said. "Our hosts are really reporters. I want 'Morning Edition' to have more of the feel of active reporting as much as active presentation. I want people to spend more time in the field and report and investigate."
If you like Bob Edwards (I do,) then you might want to let your voice be heard, you do have a say, this is still a PUBLIC institution, it isn't CNN, CBS, or any other profit driven corporate animal, regardless of the opinion of NPR's management. We don't need another "Today" show:
www.savebobedwards.com
Or you can email to Jeffrey Dvorkin, NPR's ombudsman: ombudsman@npr.org
Snail Mail:
National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20001
Or you can even telephone: 202-513-3245
