NPR reassigns its longtime morning voice

To the ears of National Public Radio listeners, few sounds have been more comforting or thought-provoking than the genteel voice of Bob Edwards, the longtime host of "Morning Edition." Yesterday it was announced that Edwards, who is 56, will vacate his NPR anchor's chair at the end of April and become a senior correspondent for the network.

Officially, Edwards's reassignment is a reward for a quarter-century of distinguished service, freeing him to file reports for various NPR programs without being tied to a studio host's schedule.

However, it was also acknowledged yesterday that NPR management was easing Edwards into a new role as "part of a natural evolution" toward an emphasis on breaking-news capability, according to a spokeswoman, Jess Sarmiento.

"With all our signature programming, we've been looking at helping move them toward the future," Sarmiento said. Noting that shows like "All Things Considered" have also changed hosts in recent years, she added: "It's certainly not a reflection on Bob's remarkable performance. He's still the voice of National Public Radio and will be a significant part of this network for a long time."

Responding to a report from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Edwards had been "forced out" by NPR management, Sarmiento called the characterization "a little strong" and denied that the move was a function of either Edwards's age or NPR's positioning itself to attract younger listeners. "The issue wasn't Bob at all -- he's a remarkable journalist -- but about trying to grow and serve our listeners' needs," Sarmiento said.

NPR also announced recently that Pulitzer Prize winner William K. Marimow of The Sun of Baltimore is joining the organization as managing editor for news.

Edwards was not granting interviews yesterday, said Laura Gross, another NPR spokeswoman. However, the Associated Press quoted Edwards as saying yesterday: "You have to figure it's going to happen someday and you get out before they do it. But I failed."

In a statement released by NPR, Edwards did speak of his pride in colleagues who "perform a daily miracle at ridiculous hours when resources are not abundant" and of his gratitude for the support of NPR member stations. Edwards said: " `Morning Edition' will continue to be my first source of news. I wish all the best to its new host."

With 13 million weekly listeners, "Morning Edition" is the most listened-to program in public radio. Until a new host is named, Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne will coanchor the show, which airs locally from 7 to 9 a.m. on WBUR-FM.

Few figures in public radio enjoy the stature that Edwards does, however. He began his NPR career in 1974 as a newscaster and later served as cohost for "All Things Considered" before settling in as anchor at "Morning Edition" when the program debuted in November 1979.

Edwards's probing interview style and insightful commentary have earned him numerous laurels, including an Edward R. Murrow Award, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, and a Peabody Award for broadcasting excellence. By NPR's count, he has interviewed 20,000 subjects in 25 years on air. He is also a published author, and a new book on Murrow is due out in May. In 1993, Edwards published "Fridays With Red," a book recalling his weekly chats with sportscaster Red Barber. During the dozen years he appeared with Edwards, Barber, who died in 1992, delighted readers with his homespun wisdom on everything from baseball's designated-hitter rule to the care and cultivation of camellias. Edwards was the ideal foil for Barber, too, eliciting responses that made each encounter seem like a lazy stroll down a garlanded country lane.

The WBUR-FM news director, Sam Fleming, said yesterday that while news of Edwards's impending departure had taken him by surprise, he had heard nothing about Edwards being reassigned against his wishes. "Bob had been getting up at 1 a.m. for 25 years, so this sounds like a good thing for him," said Fleming, praising the veteran newscaster for the "calm, reassuring manner in which he talked to everyone from Cokie Roberts to foreign leaders."

"Morning Edition" has fared especially well locally in the coveted 25- to 54-year-old demographic and has consistently finished among the top four programs in drive-time morning radio. While Edwards will be missed as program host, Fleming said, Inskeep and Montagne are "outstanding young journalists" who are more than capable of carrying on until the new edition of "Morning Edition" is fully formatted.

Joseph P. Kahn can be reached at jkahn@globe.com.