This lecture highlighted the rise and fall of radio, which we can notice today. Tesla made the first radio in 1892, though it was upgraded by Marconi's 1895 wireless radio. This led to the transatlantic spread of radio. By 1924, following World War I, there were 1500 stations to play on 3 million radios! This popularity only grew with the golden age of radio (1930-1939). Radio was important because it was the first truly live medium to give breaking news. This gave radio its own special brand of emotional impact that was truly raw.
No medium can dominate forever, as we have seen. Radio was challenged by the invention of affordable televisions. As the American economy strengthened, a middle class was able to afford TVs, making it less common for people to listen to the radio for news. This demassification happened rapidly, and I can still see the effects of it today. When my friends, family, or I want straight news or entertainment, we use the TV. Also, there are fewer radio stations available today. What is available is often niche-based. What keeps radio on is its live quality. You can't watch TV while driving a car, either. I found this lecture particularly important because it explained why our older relatives tend to cling to radio in general. They remember it as a truly live medium.
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