Long-Time 'Morning Edition' Host Bob Edwards Is Dead at 76, but Why Did He Leave NPR?

After over 20 years with NPR, Bob Edwards made a daring career move and determined that he'd reasonably host his own display somewhere else.

Feb. 13 2024, Published 10:10 a.m. ET

The man who told so many folks what happened in the world while they slept has died on the age of 76. Bob Edwards, who was once the host of NPR's Morning Edition from 1979 to 2004, will most probably all the time be perfect known for the function he played on that display.

Following the inside track of his death on Feb. 10, 2024, regardless that, some want to better understand what led him to leave NPR in want of SiriusXM in 2004. Here's what we learn about why Bob decided to leave NPR after a number of a long time throughout the radio community.

Why did Bob Edwards leave NPR?

Bob left Morning Edition in 2004 after he was once changed at the display. He turned into the co-host of All Things Considered with Susan Stamberg shortly after becoming a member of NPR in 1974. He turned into the inaugural host of Morning Edition when the display introduced in 1979. Bob served as host until 2004 when he used to be replaced. After being changed, he left for SiriusXM, which led to 1000's of protests from dependable listeners disappointed that he were sidelined.

A yr after he left the show, NPR launched a long be aware from its public editor wherein they defined the transfer in additional element.

"Bob was asked by management to leave the host's role to become a senior correspondent for Morning Edition. He decided that he preferred having his own program and left NPR to go to XM Satellite Radio, where he now resides," the public editor's note explained.

The notice added that while the move hadn't been made to attract a more youthful target audience, the listenership did grow through about 800,000 following his departure.

The note additionally added that fluctuate is a necessary a part of managing journalism, even in public radio where that adjust can every so often feel virtually unattainable.

"Still, change is inevitable, and management has an obligation to manage, even in a medium as resistant to change as public radio," the note defined. "I think that Morning Edition is sounding quite good. I think it needs to change even more so that it sounds and is in fact, more diverse — culturally, intellectually and politically."

There did not seem to be any love misplaced between Bob Edwards and NPR.

Although Bob and NPR decided to phase tactics after 30 years of mutual good fortune, it didn't appear to be there used to be any love misplaced concerning the ultimate choice. Bob closed out his occupation at SiriusXM, however he was once giving a very loving obituary through NPR following the news of his dying.

"He was a total news guy, and I think understood the news deeply," Margaret Low, who worked with Bob for years, defined. "And in some ways he sort of set the bar for how we approach stories, because he would convey these stories with a kind of simplicity but also with real depth, and make sure that they somehow resonated. And that's lasted."

He may not have stayed with NPR without end, but it seems that he continues to be beloved throughout the group.

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