Bob Edwards

After being bumped from the National Public Radio show he'd hosted for 24 years, Bob Edwards is moving to satellite radio, NPR reported Wednesday. Edwards, the former host of "Morning Edition," has agreed to host a new morning show on the XM Satellite Radio system, NPR said. The deal has not yet been formally announced and a launch date was not disclosed.

When Madeleine Brand was named co-host of National Public Radio's "Day to Day" in 2006, the newsmagazine was the network's fastest-growing show. The Los Angeles native had joined a small coterie of NPR hosts that included public-radio icons such as Bob Edwards, Linda Wertheimer and Brand's mentor, Susan Stamberg. "I felt like I was joining this august company but that they had given me the freedom to update it," Brand said. "And then … they didn't. " In 2009 NPR canceled the program, a victim of the recession.

Bob Edwards, one of radio's consummate interviewers, has found himself in his final days as host of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" in the awkward position of subject rather than questioner. "I'm sick and tired of that, frankly," said Edwards, who today ends a 24-year tenure at the helm of NPR's most popular show.

In his old job, management told him what to do and then demoted him after 30 years of service. But he did have 13 million loyal listeners and a pension plan. In his new job, he is with a station that has maybe 5 million listeners and he has no pension. But he has his own show, with his name on it, and management treats him like a star.

Bob Edwards, whose deep, smooth baritone has been the first voice that millions of National Public Radio listeners have awakened to for 25 years, is being replaced on "Morning Edition" at the end of April, the network announced Tuesday. When asked about the change, Edwards said, "I wish there were no change." "I was there from Day One. That's quite an investment," he said. "I guess some of us have to be dragged off." Edwards, 56, has hosted the show since it premiered Nov. 5, 1979.

In his old job, management told him what to do and then demoted him after 30 years of service. But he did have 13 million loyal listeners and a pension plan. In his new job, he is with a station that has maybe 5 million listeners and he has no pension. But he has his own show, with his name on it, and management treats him like a star.

Bob Edwards is one father who is home when his kids troop in from school each afternoon. He is also one of the few men whose 4-year-old daughter tucks him in for the night. Well, at least for part of the night. For 10 years now, Edwards has retired for the evening at 7 so he can climb out of bed at 1:30 a.m. each weekday to host "Morning Edition," National Public Radio's two-hour morning news program, which celebrates its 10th birthday Friday.

The outwardly ordered world of National Public Radio has been upended as station managers, editorial writers and more than 13,000 listeners have reacted with anger and confusion to last week's announcement that the network was removing the highly popular Bob Edwards as host of its flagship show, "Morning Edition," as of April 30.

Edy Williams' "still" would not be free, but rather drastically overpriced, if it costs me 22 cents to write for it. BOB EDWARDS Los Angeles

With Ruth Seymour's firing of Sandra Tsing Loh at KCRW-FM and now Bob Edwards' demotion at NPR's "Morning Edition" ("Stormy Days for NPR," by Allan M. Jalon and Steve Carney, March 29), it appears that public radio is running out of feet to shoot. Lon M. Burns Manhattan Beach

After being bumped from the National Public Radio show he'd hosted for 24 years, Bob Edwards is moving to satellite radio, NPR reported Wednesday. Edwards, the former host of "Morning Edition," has agreed to host a new morning show on the XM Satellite Radio system, NPR said. The deal has not yet been formally announced and a launch date was not disclosed.

Bob Edwards, one of radio's consummate interviewers, has found himself in his final days as host of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" in the awkward position of subject rather than questioner. "I'm sick and tired of that, frankly," said Edwards, who today ends a 24-year tenure at the helm of NPR's most popular show.

With Ruth Seymour's firing of Sandra Tsing Loh at KCRW-FM and now Bob Edwards' demotion at NPR's "Morning Edition" ("Stormy Days for NPR," by Allan M. Jalon and Steve Carney, March 29), it appears that public radio is running out of feet to shoot. Lon M. Burns Manhattan Beach

With the tally of e-mails to National Public Radio objecting to the public broadcaster's reassignment of longtime "Morning Edition" anchor Bob Edwards now upwards of 23,000, NPR launched a two-pronged damage control campaign this week. NPR-affiliated stations -- including Pasadena-based KPCC-FM (89.3), which ends its spring fundraising drive today -- sent their members a plea from Edwards to continue contributing.

Re "All Things Weren't Considered," Commentary, March 26: Bravo to Linda Ellerbee for telling it like it is. It's bad enough when television personalities are put out to pasture, but ageism in radio? Shame on National Public Radio. Carol Hirsch Los Angeles Ellerbee, who champions causes for the young even as she ages (gracefully), said what many of us were thinking: Bob Edwards represents the best in broadcast radio. Lose him, NPR, and you lose my confidence, as well as my contribution.

The outwardly ordered world of National Public Radio has been upended as station managers, editorial writers and more than 13,000 listeners have reacted with anger and confusion to last week's announcement that the network was removing the highly popular Bob Edwards as host of its flagship show, "Morning Edition," as of April 30.

Re "All Things Weren't Considered," Commentary, March 26: Bravo to Linda Ellerbee for telling it like it is. It's bad enough when television personalities are put out to pasture, but ageism in radio? Shame on National Public Radio. Carol Hirsch Los Angeles Ellerbee, who champions causes for the young even as she ages (gracefully), said what many of us were thinking: Bob Edwards represents the best in broadcast radio. Lose him, NPR, and you lose my confidence, as well as my contribution.

Let's see if I understand this latest public radio folly. NPR is replacing the founding host of "Morning Edition" just before that show has its 25th anniversary ["NPR Changes Key Host," Mar. 24]. The average weekly listener audience is the second highest in the nation, the highest in listener-sponsored public radio. According to the writer of the article, Steve Carney, "Replacing Edwards is probably NPR's biggest personnel change and challenge yet." So, NPR is just looking for a new challenge?

Bob Edwards, whose deep, smooth baritone has been the first voice that millions of National Public Radio listeners have awakened to for 25 years, is being replaced on "Morning Edition" at the end of April, the network announced Tuesday. When asked about the change, Edwards said, "I wish there were no change." "I was there from Day One. That's quite an investment," he said. "I guess some of us have to be dragged off." Edwards, 56, has hosted the show since it premiered Nov. 5, 1979.