You Are In: USINFO > Products > Webchats

Edward R. Murrow: American Original

© XFM

Bob Edwards Date: May 3, 2006 Time: 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) View Webchat Transcript

Join renowned broadcast journalist Bob Edwards on World Press Freedom Day 2006 for a webchat on the life and accomplishments of an "American original" -- Edward R. Murrow. From his thrilling rooftop radio broadcasts during the London blitz to his hard-edged television documentaries and his public confrontation with a powerful U.S. senator, Murrow set a high, principled standard for journalistic excellence, and became known as the father of broadcast journalism. Edwards will discuss Murrow's life in journalism and his recently published book on Murrow and the birth of broadcast journalism.

Guest Biography: Bob Edwards is the host of XM Public Radio’s flagship program The Bob Edwards Show, an original weekday morning show that features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, journalists, entertainers and other compelling figures. Prior to joing XM Radio, Edwards hosted National Public Radio's (NPR) Morning Edition for 25 years, attracting more than 13 million listeners weekly. Edwards began his work with NPR in February 1974 as the network’s only newscaster, and then became co-host of NPR’s evening news magazine, All Things Considered, until 1979 when he helped launch Morning Edition. Edwards grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Louisville. He began his radio career as a disc jockey (DJ) at a small station in New Albany, Indiana, where he also covered the news, sold advertising and even made repairs around the station. While in the U.S. Army, he produced and anchored television and radio news programs for the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) in Seoul, South Korea.

Bob Edwards is among broadcasting's most distinguished journalists and has won the DuPont-Columbia Award for radio journalism. In 1999, he and Morning Edition received a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Edwards also received the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting for outstanding contributions to public radio. In November 2004, Edwards was inducted into the national Radio Hall of Fame.

He is the author of two books: Fridays with Red, which chronicled his radio friendship with legendary sportscaster Red Barber, and the recently published Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.