Morning Edition
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Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio (NPR). It airs weekday mornings, Monday-Friday and runs for two hours, although many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 5 AM to 7 AM with refeeds with updates as needed until 12 noon Eastern Time. The show premiered on November 5, 1979.
A typical show includes news, both newscasts and in-depth reports; features on science, arts, business, sports, and politics; interviews with and profiles of people in the news; commentaries; and human interest features. Some regional public radio networks (such as Minnesota Public Radio) and local stations also produce locally-focused content under their Morning Edition banner.
Bob Edwards, previously the co-host of All Things Considered, hosted Morning Edition since the first episode, a job he initially took on a temporary basis when a shake-up in production and on-air staff occurred ten days before the show's premiere. His last day as host was April 30, 2004. Since May 3, 2004, the show has been co-hosted by Steve Inskeep and Renée Montagne. Inskeep reports from Washington, DC and Montagne reports from NPR West in Culver City, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Arbitron ratings show that almost thirteen million people listen to Morning Edition each day. It's the second most-listened-to national radio show, after Rush Limbaugh's syndicated program.
In 1999, Morning Edition with Bob Edwards received the George Foster Peabody Award.
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Format
The program begins with an open which highlights stories to be covered in the hour. At least one birthday or anniversary of a major event is announced as well.
The standard NPR newscast follows for five minutes. Many stations cover the last two minutes of the newscast for their own local news. Then a 3 1/2 minute business report follows and the signature "bleeble" begins the program.
The first segment, called the "A" segment, highlights the most important stories of the day. Usually the "A" segments differ between hours, although when the topic is extraordinary, the "A" segment will cover the same topic, but in a different format between the first and second hour. Between each segment, one to three minute breaks occur which are filled with promotions for other programs, sponsorship credits, and station-provided content such as local traffic and weather reports.
The second segment, or "B" segment, generally contains features, commentaries, or long form interviews. Interviews can last up to nine minutes long. Then at the bottom of the hour, a humorous news segment is delivered.
Another five minute newscast occurs, with many stations covering the last two minutes with local news and features. The "C" segment follows and is often covered by stations with local content as well. This segment features news or cultural reports of three to four minutes long. The "D" segment is generally one or two long form news features, commentaries, or interviews.
The "E" segment differs between hours. In the first hour, the "E" segment focuses on business stories, while in the second hour, the "E" segment is a cultural feature or softer news story, usually taking the entire segment of eight minutes. The majority of NPR stations cover the "E" segment in the first hour with a broadcast of the Marketplace Morning Report.
Stations receive over their computers the daily rundown of stories before each program which allows them to plan their coverage and decide what stories they wish to replace with local content. The rundown is updated as necessary until 12 noon Eastern time.
Personnel
Hosts
- Bob Edwards (1979-2004)
- Steve Inskeep (Co-host; 2004-)
- Renée Montagne (Co-host; 2004-)
Newscasters
- Carl Kasell (since the show's inception)
- Jean Cochran
News analyst
Correspondents
- Madeleine Brand
- Alex Chadwick
- David Kestenbaum
- Renée Montagne
- Susan Stamberg
- Juan Williams
- Laura Sydell
Commentators
- Red Barber (1980-1992)
- Baxter Black ("cowboy poet, philosopher and former large-animal veterinarian")
- Frank Deford (sports)
- Miles Hoffman (music)
- Patt Morrison
- David Sedaris (since 1992)
- Tom Shales (film and television; also a critic for the Washington Post)
- Kenneth Turan (film; also a critic for the Los Angeles Times)
Executive producer
External links
- Official site (http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/)
- NPR press release announcing Edwards' departure (http://www.npr.org/about/press/040323.bobedwards.html)
- More about Edwards' forced departure (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19085-2004Mar23.html)