EOTO: Invention of the Radio

Society uses cell phones to receive news, entertainment, and connect. Before the cell phone was the radio. In this post, I will write about the history and impact of the radio. The intent behind creating the radio was to improve communication, especially for ships overseas. This invention grew into something much greater and connected the American people through media. Although the radio improved the American lifestyle, some negative effects came with it. Before the radio was the wireless telegraph invented by Guglielmo Marconi, who kickstarted the invention of the radio. 

In 1916 the first radio with tuners was created by Ernst Alexanderson. Before the radio, we had telegraphs and the telephone. Although Alexanderson invented the radio tuner, the father of the wireless telegraph, Guglielmo Marconi, is known for creating the first radio. Many world events were happening around the time of the invention of the radio. In 1912 the Titanic sank and in 1914 World War I began. The radio was heavily relied upon by ships to send distress signals. When the Titanic sank, the issue of the radio only capable of receiving a single, limited frequency became apparent. In an attempt to take action, legislation passed the Radio Act of 1912. This sent the job of regulating the radio to the Department of Commerce. The department's job was to regulate frequencies, by assigning people times to use the radio. Then During World War I, radio control was passed to the Navy. So, many issues came from only having one frequency on the radio. It became very limiting.

Ernst Alexanderson solved the problem of limited radio frequency with the invention of tuners. With the addition of tuning, radio users could now broadcast on multiple frequencies. This invention led to the emergence of broadcast stations and jumpstarted the media world. Frank Conrad founded the first broadcasting station, KDKA. This broadcast connected people worldwide and significantly impacted American life, by providing media consisting of politics, entertainment, music, sports, and news. For many the radio was the fastest and most reliable news source. KDKA had its own important moments in history. Overall, in the 1920s America was booming with many milestones such as Industrialization, Civil Rights, Immigration, and Early Radio Programs. Ernst's invention of the radio brought the nation together at the time of these milestones.

Media and Communication among Americans soon significantly improved from radio networks. The Radio Networks we know and see today, ABC, NBC Red and Blue, AT&T, and CBS were created. The FCC provides an informative timeline of radio networks. In 1938, a significant event occurred, The War of the Worlds stream. Essentially, The War of the Worlds stream was a fake alien sighting. It holds importance because it made society panic and showed how much of an impact the media can have. Media impact is something that we still see today in society. At the time of the creation of the radio, propaganda was another negative effect of the invention. Many political leaders used the radio to spread misinformation and propaganda during World War II. A positive political leader, President Franklin Roosevelt, conducted Fireside Chats. The purpose of these chats was to combat all the negative spreading propaganda and connect with the American people as sort of a family approach. Roosevelt gained a healthy relationship with the American people through his Fireside Chats.

   

The invention of the radio comes with great history and impact. Ernst Alexanderson's invention of radio tuners solved the problem of limited frequency and allowed for quality communication. Broadcasting stations emerged and KDKA was born to connect the American people during the milestone that was the 1920's. Shortly after, radio networks emerged, and the negative effects of media appeared as leaders took advantage of the system and spread propaganda and fake news. Overall, the radio holds significance of the birth of media in America.