Summary

One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Held in New York and hosted by Museum television curator Ron Simon, this seminar honors the career of Bob Edwards, longtime host of NPR's "Morning Edition" and author of a book on journalist Edward R. Murrow. During the seminar, Simon presents a series of audio clips from "Morning Edition"; after each one, Edwards regales the audience with tales related to that particular broadcast, topic, or interview guest. Topics discussed include the following: the show's debut in 1979, on the day after militants seized the U.S. embassy in Iran and took its residents hostage; how Edwards became the "Morning Edition" host; what Edwards considers the essence of a good interview (exemplified in a clip from an interview of author Mary Hartman); how Edwards broadcasts "style"; favorite interviewees (including Dolly Parton, heard in a clip); Edwards' influences; his years in the Army; and his relationship with longtime NPR correspondent Red Barber (heard along with Edwards in a clip following the U.S. declaration of war against Iraq in 1991). Simon and Edwards then discuss Edward R. Murrow's legacy. Topics discussed include the following: Murrow's relationship with writer Ed Bliss; Edwards' earliest memories of Murrow's broadcasts; Murrow's innovations in the field of journalism; Murrow's evocative war reporting (exemplified in clips from World War II in which Murrow relates the experiences of bombing Berlin in 1943 and describes the conditions of concentration camp survivors in 1945); Murrow's television career; Murrow's editorials (exemplified in a 1954 broadcast about Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI)); and Murrow's contentious relationship with William S. Paley (as exemplified in a 1958 broadcast, the transcript of which is read by Edwards). Edwards comments briefly on topics which stir his anger, such as the George W. Bush administration's handling of the press corps. The discussion is then opened to the audience, who pose questions about the following topics: why Edwards disagrees with editorials by journalists; humorist Baxter Black; how the Bush administration's handling of the press corps compares to other administrations; how Edwards will fit into NPR News' structure as its new "correspondent"; the state of Edwards' relationship with NPR; and his opinions on partisan press, including Air America.