Comments on: NPR Bans Hosts from Bob Edwards XM Show

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 16 May 2005 19:50:59 +0000

Pepper's oft repeated, and entirely nonsensical, canards notwithstanding.... Edwards made frequent appearances on behalf of local NPR stations and anyone who heard him in Q&A knows that he actively resisted both working with a co-host and getting out of the studio to do stories, issues over which NPR and Edwards had wrestled frequently. The news landscape has changed pretty dramatically in the last 25 years and what worked when Morning Edition first went on the air had long since gone stale. NPR is no longer some niche broadcaster that can happily survive on contributions from a narrow band of listenters. It's in head to head competition for listeners with an increasing number of news and entertainments outlets. Edward's hidebound stance indiated that he made the fatal mistake of believing that he was more important than the job. Sometimes you do what the boss says for no other reason than the fact that he signs your check, a fact most adults who haven't had their jobs practically guaranteed by fiat for 25 years recognize. He was fired by Jay Kernis who helped start the program, was instrumental in putting Edwards in the anchor seat and, when he left NPR, admonished higher-ups not to mess with a successful formula. When he returned several years later he recognized just how dated and inflexible the program and coverage had become and was determined to change it. So much for the ' corporate suit' argument. Edward tossed more softballs during interviews than CNN's Larry King and was certainly more disengaged. If NPR were out for ' younger demographic' they certainly wouldn't have replaced good old Bob with Renee Montagne who is only 1 year younger. Nor would Totenberg, Stamberg, Roberts, Wertheimer, Schoor, Simon, Adams, McPartland and God knows how many others who receive continued support and air time, and range in age from their 50's to their 80's, be available for Pepper to hear. Let's not allow the apparently abysmal manner in which it was handled overshadow the fact that it was long overdue.

By: Pepper

Pepper — Wed, 04 May 2005 15:07:47 +0000

Not true. Bob was "canned" from Morning Edition because management wanted to go for a younger audience. Plus it's unfair to characterize someone who gets up every night at 1am and doesn't get off work until 12pm as lazy. Notice they had to get TWO hosts to fill his job.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 03 May 2005 20:52:23 +0000

For what it's worth, I was told by some NPRniks that Bob Edwards was canned for being a lazy slob prima donna. Gee, kind like Katie Couric.
C

By: Nostalgic Rumblings

Nostalgic Rumblings — Tue, 03 May 2005 20:27:05 +0000

Wisconsin Public Radio interviews Bob Edwards
There was an interesting interview this afternoon with Bob Edwards, conducted by Ben Merens of Wisconsin Public Radio.

By: Nostalgic Rumblings

Nostalgic Rumblings — Tue, 03 May 2005 20:18:02 +0000

More on NPR's Vindictiveness According to Richard Leiby's column, "Reliable Source" in today's Washington Post, Scott Simon was barred by NPR from appearing on Bob Edwards' XM Satellite Radio show last week.

By: Kappiy

Kappiy — Tue, 03 May 2005 18:18:45 +0000

This isn't unprecedented--in Chicago, for instance, the broadcasters for the baseball team owned by the Tribune can't appear on non-Tribune outlets.

In the case of NPR,its pretty absurd--it's not like Scott SImon is some big star or, for that matter, anyone actually listens to Bob Edwards on satellite radio.

I can't think of anything more soporific than listening to the extremely dull Bob Edwards interview the exceptionally dull Scott Simon.