MPR News' Gary Eichten to Receive University of Minnesota's Graven Award

Mar 10, 2011

March 10, 2011 - Gary Eichten, host of MPR News' weekday public affairs program Midday, has been awarded the Frank Premack Graven award from the University of Minnesota. The Graven Award is given each year to members of the journalistic community whose contribution to excellence in the profession merits special recognition.

"Gary Eichten is a news reporting legend in Minnesota," said Chris Worthington, managing director, MPR News. "He represents everything good and honorable in a newsman -- thorough, fair and appropriately skeptical on behalf of his audience. And at a time when our profession is faced with great cynicism, I can't think of anyone more reliable or more trusted to represent MPR News every day."

Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including those of news director, special events producer and station manager. He is the primary host for Minnesota Public Radio's live, special news coverage, and he has hosted all of the major MPR News programs.

An award ceremony, sponsored by the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University of Minnesota, will be held April 18 at the McNamara Alumni Center on the U of M's Twin Cities campus.

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) operates a 40-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. Reaching 900,000 listeners each week, Minnesota Public Radio produces programming for radio, Internet and face-to-face audiences, and is home to the largest and most experienced radio newsroom in the Upper Midwest. Programs produced by Minnesota Public Radio's parent company, American Public Media, reach 16 million listeners on nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.minnesotapublicradio.org. Source: Data are copyright Arbitron, Inc. Arbitron data are estimates only. Fall 2009/Spring 2010 average.