History of Radio - Essay Sample

Introduction

Radio is a form of communication that uses radio waves to transmit messages and music. Historically, the device has been at the center of different advancements in business, politics, and social environments. It was the first form of communication network before television, internet, and social media. It transformed the world in a time when newspapers dominated the dissemination of news and information. With the founding of radio, people could receive essential messages in real time. This technology played a significant role during crises and war. For instance, the British used radio waves in war times to monitor enemy planes using radar. Thus, radio is one of the most influential technological advancement that remains relevant because of its role in communication.

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A Brief History of Radio

Through a series of theories and experiments, contributors in radio technology development worked separately to create radio. Interests from the public led to the commercialization of the device and the creation of a new profit-making industry. Before the first radiotelephony Christmas message in Massachusetts, different theorists had come up with ideas that contributors experimented. However, Reginald Fessenden's Christmas transmission in 1906 from Brant Rock, Massachusetts marked the beginning of the device era (Spiker, 2004). The first radio public service broadcast aired in October 1917 signaling a significant development that transformed communication in the 20th century. Introduction of broadcasting techniques led to the founding of the first radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. KDKA, with its first broadcaster, Frank Conrad, aired on November 2, 1920, with the first order of business beings the presidential election results (Spiker, 2004). In the following three years after KDKA founding, the number of radio stations grew to hundreds.

The interconnection between stations into a network was standard but was only successful for one-time events. Organizations started focusing on the development of a system to easy transmission and broadcasting. AT&T started developing the first broadcast network in 1923 through the interconnection of transmitters using telephone circuits (Hilmes, 2007). The first successful work involved four stations and grew to 20 stations in two years. In 1926, the WEAF group from 1923 network became the Broadcasting Company of America and later a part of NBC, which was the first permanent radio network in the United States (Hilmes, 2007). The following years saw the growth in radio station networks starting with the Columbia Broadcasting System in 1928 and later the Mutual Network in 1935. The first radio drama, the war of the Worlds aired in 1938 on CBS radio sparking widespread controversy. The development of the first commercial transmitter radio in 1954 marked the era of portable electronics (Hilmes, 2007). Though the device is still significant in information transmission, historical contributions of radio technology were slightly more significant.

Historical Significance

Radio was influential in the First World War and the period after the event. During this time, the tool was significant in relaying messages to ships in the sea, especially during emergencies. The most common messing method at the time was Morse cord messaging. Radio was the main channel of communication between the members of the army. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) and the KDKA were among the first stations in the world. KDKA started the distribution of radio receivers (Wood, 2014). The AT&T chain broadcasting created the ability to form radio networks leading to the development of radio stations as businesses. The company gained the only rights to toll broadcasting leading. In England, the BBC struggled to capture the news reporting market until 1926 when a newspapers strike provided the best opportunity for the company (Wood, 2014). The BBC became an essential news source for the public. Radio became a vital source of news and entertainment.

As an advancing technology, radio was also significant in World War II and influenced substantial events after the war. During the battle, it was the primary method of communication between governments and to the public (Wood, 2014). Federal administrations would also use the device to persuade the public and rally support. It was also the most reliable form of communication at the time. Radio stations also moved from using drama and other programs to focus on playing music. The period also marked the move from AM radio to FM, which was more effective in playing music (Wood, 2014). During the cold war, the United States used Radio Free Europe to propagate anticommunist propaganda to communist nations in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Most communist countries had limited the freedom of the press and access to unbiased information. Radio Free Europe (RFE) became the primary source of unbiased information from in and out of the country. The primary source of funding for the RFE was the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secretly to prevent any form of retaliation (McDonald, 2017). The Soviet Union responded by jamming the station's signal. The Soviet Union also infiltrated the RFE, threatened employees, and later assassinated a few of them and bombed the RFE headquarters.

Historically, radio has been at the forefront of propaganda transmission, especially in the period after the Second World War. The United States established the Voice of America (VOA) in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda. As Radio Free Europe, VOA's primary objective is to provide unbiased information (Graham, 2016). The VOA helps promote American and international news to the rest of the world. Similarly, the Japanese used English speaking broadcasters to spread Japanese propaganda during World War II. Allied forces in the South Pacific used the name Tokyo Rose to describe female English speaking Japanese presenters. The broadcasters would explain the events of allied forces using specific information to discourage their morale. One particular figure in the propaganda was Japanese-American Iva D'Aquino. She was arrested in 1949 and sentenced to treason (Richards, 2019). During the same period, another prominent propagandist broadcaster was Axis Sally who used to broadcast for Nazi Germany. Using her Northeast Ohio accent, she would propagate discouragement targeting the allied forces. World War II was a war on the radio (Richards, 2019). Another propagandist of WWII was William Joyce or Lord Haw-Haw. Joyce was an Irish-American working for Nazi Germany to broadcast propaganda to Britain through Germany Calling. Like other propagandists, Joyce's agenda was to spread demoralizing and depressing propaganda.

Radio as a source of propaganda continued for years after the Second World War. During the Vietnam War, Hanoi Hannah was a Vietnamese English speaking propagandist. Like the WWII propagandists, she had accurate information about the war and detailed knowledge of captured soldiers and battles (North, 2018). The propaganda aimed to discourage American soldiers by highlighting the losses in the war. Hanoi Hannah also used music, especially antiwar songs. Similarly, radio propaganda played a significant role in the Rwandan genocide of 1944 (North, 2018). Radio broadcasts incited Rwandans to participate in massacres of their neighbors. Radio Rwanda, the official government radio station, transmitted hate propaganda to fuel the war between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Radio Television des Milles Collines (RTLM) was a form of retaliation against Radio Rwanda. Hutu leaders used the RTLM to transmit hate propaganda against the Tutsis. Radio was the main force behind the Hutu Power that promoted the division between Hutus and Tutsis.

Present Radio Influence

Though the world has seen a decline in radio supremacy and prominence, radio is still significant in information transmission and communication. The radio has transformed from the use of receivers to the contemporary use of mobile phones and the internet, including social media (Bonini, 2014). The emergence of podcasts and online radios maintains the significance of the tool in a changing environment. In the recent past, broadcasters have used radio to promote debates and opposition to governments and political affairs. Rush Limbaugh is one of the presenters that use the platform to express their discontent with the political class. Like Limbaugh, Ann Coulter is a conservative broadcaster. The two individuals have used radio and other modern forms of communication to spread their beliefs and understanding about specific topics. More often, they use the media to show their discontent with the government and current action (Bonini, 2014). Like traditional radio programs, they use radio to spread their propaganda with the aim of provoking discussions about the topics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that radio technology has undergone numerous transformations since its inception. The tool facilitates different advancements in business, politics, and social environments. The first radio service broadcast was aired in October 1917. Introduction of broadcasting techniques led to the establishment of the first radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Presently, the device is used as a platform to air political, religious, economic, and social challenges affecting the society. Thus, radio is one of the most influential technological advancement that remains relevant because of its role in communication.

References

Bonini, T. (2014). The new role of radio and its public in the age of social network sites. First Monday, 19(6). https://ojphi.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/4311

Graham, S. E. (2016). Culture and Propaganda: The Progressive Origins of American Public Diplomacy, 1936-1953. US: Routledge.

Hilmes, M. (2007). NBC and the network idea: Defining the "American System." Berkeley: University of California Press

McDonald, N. D. (2017). Radio Free Europe and the right to be informed: National sovereignty and freedom of information during the Cold War.

North, D. (2018, Feb 8). Vietnam '67: The mystery of Hanoi Hannah. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/opinion/hanoi-hannah-vietnam-propaganda.html

Richards, J. (2019). War and politics. In cinema and radio in Britain and America, 1920-60. Manchester University Press.

Spiker, J. A. (2004). The Development of Radio. Retrieved from https://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/C04/E6-33-01-06.pdf

Wood, J. (2014). History of the Radio: From inception to modern day. Radio Communication Education Awareness. Retrieved from: https://www.techwholesale.com/history-of-the-radio.html