A Brief History of Public Radio
It all began with Guglielmo Marconi (pictured on the left), who was the inventor of the successful wireless telegraph. Marconi, would later dedicate time to develop shortwave wireless communication, which makes up the basis of almost all modern long distance radio!
When radio was first becoming a new form of media many people were skeptical of it, floor boards creaking and children vomiting would be attributed to radio!
During World War I, radio took a brief hiatus, as the government banned amateur radio broadcasting. Yet, the medium would blossom regardless, in 1922 the U.S. made licenses available to broadcasters, which would lead to the founding of hundreds of stations! With the rise of radio, it would prove itself useful, as it showed people it was a faster way of receiving news rather than waiting for a newspaper. By 1922, there were 28 stations running and by 1924 there were 1,400 stations!
However, noncommercial broadcasters would struggle greatly, most educational stations would fold by 1933. Non-Profit stations would find it hard to compete with stations that had advertisements.
Then, the Great Depression would cause another null in radio, but in 1931, radio would enter it's 'Golden Age'. Half of Americans homes had a radio in it! There was a station and story for everyone, from isolated religious folk (who could now hear sermons and gospels on air) to families (where mothers could tune in, in the morning, children the afternoon, and fathers in the evening).
By World War II, nine in ten families possessed a radio, where they would listen on average from three to four hours a day! In 1940, most automobiles would come with a radio installed!
The creation of the transistor (semi-conductor device used to amplify/switch electronic signals and power) permitted radios to be smaller and therefore, more mobile. With music now taking to the air waves, there was new demographic tuning in, those under the age of 21 (all thanks to the rise of rock and roll).
In 1967, with the Public Broadcasting Act being passed, it would establish funding for public broadcasting, which in turn would lead to the creation of the National Public Radio (1969). NPR would accumulate stations nationwide!
AM stations would be dominated by 'Talk Radio' and FM stations would be more for music. Eventually, AM and FM would be joined by XM and various other satellite radio services.
With the turn of the century, the future of the radio is the internet! As many (if not all) stations now have a website in which you can hear their broadcasting from your phone, laptop, or any other device!
Radio is to be thanked endlessly for all it has done for the world. Offering news coverage, music, and much more to people of all backgrounds and economic groups. It is the common that will hopefully never cease to exist (I mean we'll always have cars!).
Now that you know the history of radio you can feel even better when listening! So go listen to your hearts content!