This medium has died and come back more times than a cat.
Historical perspective of radioFor glossary of radio terms
Unique qualities of radio
# only medium based primarily on music. This may be changing with the popularity of video music stations in the enlarged cable setup and satellite radio.
# specialized around musical tastes, lifestyles.
# saturation widespread í about 99.4 percent.
# least expensive medium to receive.
# most important medium in Third World nations around the world through the Voice of America.
# It is an effective tool in propaganda, such as Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose during World War II.
# easy to use while engaged in other activities.
# least formal/most personal
# main medium in a disaster..
# most flexible medium for advertising. Click here for old-time radio advertising.
# potentially fastest medium to cover news ... not always interested in news, however.
# highest youth appeal.
# poetic/stimulates imagination.
# easy to target by gender.
# segments audience for advertisers.
# provides good source for immediate weather and traffic information.
# allows audience participation games and other gimmicks.
Historical highlights of radio
# 1901 Marconi sends trans-Atlantic wireless signal.
# 1919 Radio Corporation of America formed among Westinghouse, General Electric and A T & T.
# 1920 first commercial station formed in Pittsburgh, KDKA.
# 1926 Networks formed; between this year and 1934, four networks will be in operation.
# 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiates "fireside chats" to American people.
# 1934 Communications Act establishes Federal Communications Commission to regulate airwaves. Here is the current FCC rule on Obscenities
# 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast frightens millions.
# 1939 first FM station goes on air in New Jersey. Television makes debut at World's Fair in New York.
# 1941 "Mayflower Decision" prohibits editorializing by broadcasters.
# 1941-45 The War Years.
Hear samples
Golden Age of Radio
The Hindenberg Disaster — May 6, 1937
Speech by Princess Elizabeth, age 14 — Oct. 13, 1939, age 14
Pearl Harbor— Dec. 7, 1941 report by Charles Daly
VE Day — May 8, 1945 report by Gabriel Heater
# 1950 TV begins to pull viewers away from radio; advertisers follow. # 1960s New formats introduced. # 1970s Talk/news radio introduced. # 1980sFM radio most important/AM goes stereo (but doesn't catch on very well).
Formats
# All-talk/news # Ethnic-oriented # Classical
# Country and Western most popular format in number of stations
# Middle of the Road includes album-oriented rock, soft rock
# Religious
# Shock Radio from Howard Stern to Lisles and Hahn (sort of).
# Top-40 includes rock 'n' roll
# Jazz
# College/alternative
Click here for Texas radio stations
Click here for non-commercial radio stations
Click here for Radio-Television News Directors Association Ethics
Types of stations
# Commercial
# State-run
# Public
# Shortwave
# Educational
# Community
# Special-interest
# Pirate
Click here for radio stations around the world
Measuring the Audience:
# Nielsen is a rating service and Eastlan Ratings is another.
# The measurements are taken in dayparts, and they dictate what the station can charge for advertising at any given time of the day. Also, the measurement can tell advertisers who the audience is demographically.
The News Report
This report includes an opening lead, which may be sound only. Then, the reporter uses actualities or sound bites to flesh out the story just as direct quotes would in print. Answers all questions (who, what, when, where and why) but not in the lead. In a continuing story, the reporter must give a brief bit of background about what has happened. The continuing story will end when the event has ended and all questions have been answered.
The Feature Report
This type of information does not necessarily depend on a quick deadline; the feature may include music; it concentrates on word play, puns, humor, human interest; it may include natural or ambient sounds; should have quotes that build the story in a natural way. The ending should be as carefully planned.
Check here for Jingles
Click here for the Museum of Television and Radio
Click here for the Poynter Broadcast Journalism Bibliography
Back to Mass Media Stuff -- stuff I have collected over 28 1/2 years of teaching a beginning mass media course in journalism-photography at San Antonio College
Last updated Jan. 3, 2017