Mass Communication: The Radio Phenomenon

As we journey through the evolution of media, we recognize drastic changes seen within it. For thousands of years, print media ruled the masses. Whether it meant by way of stone carved signs of the Babylonians, the manuscript culture of the Middle Ages, or the arrival of the penny press in the early 1800's, print media was king of communication. Stepping out of a print era, we tumble into the age of digital and electronic media with the discovery of electromagnetic waves by Heinrich Hertz. Many were skeptical about this form of media on the rise in the early 1840's, yet none realized how great of an effect it would take on developing society. As we journey through the phenomenon of radio, we must consider the following:

1. What is the history of radio?

2. How does the evolution of radio affect listeners today?

3. How is radio organized?

By carefully examining these three questions, our definition of radio's phenomenon in a media driven world will be clarified.

In the early 1840's, a young entrepreneur by the name of Heinrich Hertz discovered electromagnetic waves and their capabilities. Little did this twenty-year-old young man know the impact that his discovery would have on society. With this discovery of electromagnetic waves, the door opened for a new form of media to arrive. Around the year 1844, Samuel Morse realized that message could be sent through distinct wiring systems using these electromagnetic waves.

With the inception of Morse code, the opportunity to spread messages quicker than ever had arrived. Now, those in war could send messages to the homeland and to loved ones that could reach them almost instantly rather than forcing them to wait months to hear much desired information of loved ones' statuses as well as the progression of war. For the first time in history, communication could exceed the speed of land transportation.