Bob Edwards returns to NPR (sort-of)

[Mark_Giardina]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11865457/site/newsweek/<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[zoey]

Bob Edwards returns to NPR - NOT!

The program is sort of "The Best of Bob" drawn from his XM Radio program and produced by XM. The program is being distributed by PRI, a subsidiary of Minnesota Public Radio. There is no connection to NPR. Not even "sort of."

 

[Mark_Giardina]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to NPR - Not

> The program is sort of "The Best of Bob" drawn from his XM
> Radio program and produced by XM. The program is being
> distributed by PRI, a subsidiary of Minnesota Public Radio.
> There is no connection to NPR. Not even "sort of."
>
Yet a number of NPR affiliates will be carrying the program. So, in a sense, Edwards will be returning to NPR, in a round-about sort of way. Thus the title- sort-of.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[network]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to PUBLIC RADIO

> Yet a number of NPR affiliates will be carrying the program.
> So, in a sense, Edwards will be returning to NPR, in a
> round-about sort of way. Thus the title- sort-of.

Dude, you're still not correct. Bob is returning to public radio, via PRI. Those same stations that run PRI/APM programming (Prairie Home Companion, Marketplace, etc.) could also say they are PRI/APM affliates, too. This is just like Tavis Smiley, who returned to public radio via PRI/APM, NOT NPR.

 

[Mark_Giardina]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to Terrestrial Radio

Ok then I will amend my original post to say that Bob Edwards will be returning to terrestrial radio. Hopefully that will correct my mistake.<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[testing]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to Terrestrial Radio

either way, I don't really care. I'm sure some are all a-twitter. I respect Bob but I personally always thought he was boring as dry stale white bread.<P ID="signature">______________
...with God as my witness, I thought Turkeys could Fly."</P>

 

[network]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to Terrestrial Radio

> I respect Bob but I personally always thought he
> was boring as dry stale white bread.

With the younger demographic they are attracting (and continuing to strive for), along with the direction public radio (particularly NPR) is aiming, Bob's style just doesn't really fit anymore. I certainly will always have the utmost respect for him, but times change -- whether people agree with it or not.

 

[RipNRead]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to Terrestrial Radio

> I respect Bob but I personally always thought he
> was boring as dry stale white bread.
>

One has to give Edwards credit for helping to make Morning Edition one of the most popular programs on National Public Radio. Plus how he handled the way NPR "shafted him" back in April of 2004. Instead of moaning and groaning, Edwards took the high road and had nothing but praise for public radio. (And still does)
As for his decision to move his program to XM, where else was he going? Sure he might have been offered a job at some local NPR affiliate in a major market, but I doubt he would have accepted and it’s highly unlikely any affiliate could have afforded him.
Whether Edwards has the coattails to bring a larger audience with him to XM remains to be seen.
I'm sure Mr. Edwards is happy still being on the air, and is making more money than the rest of us ever will. Happy, healthy and rich. What else could one ask for in broadcasting these days?

 

[nwebster]

What About Bob?

> > I respect Bob but I personally always thought he
> > was boring as dry stale white bread.
> >
>
> One has to give Edwards credit for helping to make Morning
> Edition one of the most popular programs on National Public
> Radio. Plus how he handled the way NPR "shafted him" back in
> April of 2004. Instead of moaning and groaning, Edwards took
> the high road and had nothing but praise for public radio.
> (And still does)

He did his job and he got shafted. That's radio. Those of you who think public radio is somehow morally superior to the rest of the business, please take note.

That said, Bob Edwards is an announcer and a good one. Great pipes. But the format made Morning Edition popular, not Bob. Bob is newsreader, not that there's anything wrong with that. He is not a reporter. Maybe he could be but we don't know because he's never tried. He's not a writer. He's not an interviewer either - he just read the questions they gave him to read. Still he did the job he was given and then got screwed. None the less, he had a good run and probably is better off financially than had he spent his career voice tracking easy listening music in Kentucky.

And unlike those of "thank-you-sir-may-I-have-another" persuasion, I have little respect for those who get the shaft and just take it. Maybe that's why there is so much shafting in radio, because so many people can be counted on to submit - roll over - and smile. I'd have more respect for old Bob if he'd punched somebody's lights out as headed for the door - sued - or, best of all, written a tell all book airing public radio's dirty laundry (a job that somebody needs to do because there may be plenty of it).

 

[IlDuce]

Re: What About Bob?

> And unlike those of "thank-you-sir-may-I-have-another"
> persuasion, I have little respect for those who get the
> shaft and just take it. Maybe that's why there is so much
> shafting in radio, because so many people can be counted on
> to submit - roll over - and smile. I'd have more respect
> for old Bob if he'd punched somebody's lights out as headed
> for the door - sued - or, best of all, written a tell all
> book airing public radio's dirty laundry (a job that
> somebody needs to do because there may be plenty of it).
>
Burning ones bridges accomplishes nothing but to give one a reputation for being a trouble-maker. And with the dwindling number of jobs in broadcasting today, do you honestly think a station, or a network, would hire someone like that?
I’m sure plenty of us have been in the position of wanting to take a swing at someone in management. But why lower yourself to their level? And what would be accomplished about writing a book that reveals the “dirty laundry” about public radio? Those who support public radio would just dismiss it as the writings of a disgruntled employee. And those who never listen to public radio could give a damn.
Edwards was smart. Sure he got shafted by NPR, but he kept his dignity and walked out the door with his head held up high and that is a sign of someone with integrity and character.

 

[jegrant]

Re: Bob Edwards returns to Terrestrial Radio

I'm 25, and I think Bob's XM show is usually interesting. There are a few topics he's covered that I just had no interest in, and I skipped those recordings on my MyFi, but by and large, I think they are doing some interesting radio. It's not "Morning Edition" but it's not trying to be. It's mostly a long-form interview show - but slowly expanding to include more (and shorter) pieces taped on location.