PORT ANGELES — Radio host Bob Edwards will bring his trademark delivery, penetrating observations and wry sense of humor to Port Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 2, during the Peninsula College Foundation’s 16th American Conversations.
This year’s event includes a sit-down dinner, followed by a talk by the former host of NPR’s “Morning Edition” and co-host of “All Things Considered.”
The Peabody Award-winning member of the National Radio Hall of Fame is now the host of “Bob Edwards Weekend” distributed by Public Radio International and “The Bob Edwards Show” on SiriusXM radio.
The American Conversations evening will begin with seating at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. in the Peninsula College Pirate Union Building on the Peninsula College campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd. in Port Angeles.
Edwards will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater.
Tickets are $125 each.
Edwards’ show on SiriusXM satellite radio continues his tradition of interviewing people from all walks of life, but in an expanded format.
As Edwards told Terrance Smith from “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer”: “The longest interview I could do on the air for ‘Morning Edition’ was eight minutes. Now I can interview someone for up to an hour.
“So it’s a freer, more open, more relaxed and enjoyable conversation. The program’s really about conversation.”
And conversation is what Edwards’ focus will be on in his American Conversations in the Little Theater.
Edwards’ career
He joined NPR in 1974 as associate producer for news. Six months later, he became co-host of NPR’s flagship evening news program, “All Things Considered.”
In 1979, he helped launched “Morning Edition.”
During the three decades he hosted “Morning Edition,” it became the most-listened-to program on public radio, and his interviews spotlighted the famous and the not-so-famous, including presidents, entertainers and ordinary people living ordinary lives.
Raised in Louisville, Ky., Edwards attended the University of Louisville and began his radio career at a small station in New Albany, Ind., as a disc jockey, newscaster, ad salesman and general handyman.
He followed that with service in the Army, where he produced and anchored TV and radio news programs for the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) in Seoul.
Following the Army, Edwards moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a weekend and evening anchorman for WTOP-AM, an all-news CBS affiliate.
He also earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from American University.
Background
While he was at NPR, Edwards received numerous awards, including a 1999 George Foster Peabody Award, the 1984 Edward R. Murrow Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for “outstanding contributions to public radio” and two Gabriel Awards from the National Catholic Association of Broadcasters, one in 1987 and another in 1990.
In 1995, he shared in NPR’s Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.
Since moving to SiriusXM satellite radio and “The Bob Edwards Show” in 2004, Edwards has picked up several new awards.
In 2006, he received the Deems Taylor Award from ASCAP and a Gabriel Award from the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals.
In 2007, he earned a second Gabriel Award, the National Press Club’s Robert L. Kozik Award, a New York Festivals Gold World Medal and an award from the Society of Environmental Journalists.
In 2008, “The Bob Edwards Show” received an Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association and a New York Festivals/United Nations Gold Award.
In 2009, the show received a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and another Gabriel Award.
In 2013, his program was awarded a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.
American Conversations is sponsored by Forks Outfitters, Irwin Dental Center, Wilder Auto Center, Schacht Aslani Architects, Sound Community Bank, Olympic Ambulance, Steve Methner and Ray Gruver of State Farm, KeyBank Foundation, Sunny Farms and J&J Construction.
American Conversations is the Peninsula College Foundation’s signature event. Proceeds from the evening will help support Peninsula College students and programs.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.pcfoundation.ctc.edu.
For more information, phone 360-417-6400.
