Having just moved into a new house and feeling rather disconnected and out of my routine lately, I missed the big news from NPR that Bob Edwards is no longer the host of Morning Edition.
Man, I can't believe this. Bob Edwards has been part of my morning drive-to-work ritual for at least 15 years. (In fact, Edwards had just completed 24 years as host of ME) Now, with our new house a mere two miles from the office, I don't have as much time on the commute each day to listen to NPR as I once did. But, still, the loss of Edwards really stinks.
His voice was so familiar and comforting. I first became addicted to ME the summer I graduated from High School. An internship in the media center of the same company my father worked put us in the car together each morning for a 30 minute commute. My dad is a long time NPR listener and he got me hooked, too.
I listened to NPR growing up a lot, though, as we always had it on in the car or occasionally around the house. (I will never forget listening to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or the Star Wars radio plays laying on the floor of our living room.) I later learned that not only did Bob Edwards hail from my hometown of Louisville, but he graduated from my high school, too! My senior year I even had the pleasure of picking up Mr. Edwards at the airport when he came to town to address our journalism and communication classes.
According to some news articles, Edwards was "asked" to leave the anchor desk for a roll as senior correspondent in an effort to reinvent and refocus ME as a way to draw younger listeners. Hmmm. The thought of NPR trying to "modernize" its sound is a bit scary to me.
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