Radio During The 1940s Essay

In previous research on the functions of the radio and the impact it had on society, radio was a very prominent and useful medium in relaying information, telling stories, and regulating moods. However much of the research done on radio has looked at the uses of radio during the 1940s-1960s when radio was a popular and favored medium. During their studies, Bryant and Oliver (2009) and Herzog (1944) both looked at why people gravitated toward radio, but what may have been an important relied upon medium then is no longer the case in the 21st century. While there is an overlap on how people nowadays utilize the radio and back then, society depends less on the radio for news or information than the television or Internet. According to the
Ritualistic use is using a medium out of habit for a diversion or to consume time (Bryant & Oliver, 2009). We can think of this as listening to the radio or Internet radio while doing chores or working around the house. Instrumental use is looking for certain informational message content. This can be listening to the news channels or the weather and traffic channels. In Herzog’s (1944) study, many women used the radio for advice, emotional release, entertainment, and to learn about martial or life situations from daytime serials. This supports existing evidence that media can reinforce identities for subgroups of different kinds (McQuail, 2010). On the other hand, some people use the radio as “noise” to fill in time (Mendelsohn, 1964). Herzog (1944) found that listeners of daytime serials rated the radio as the primary source of political information followed by newspapers/magazines, friends/relatives, and lastly public speakers and newsreels. However, non-daytime serial listeners rated that the newspaper/magazines as the source of information before radio. Therefore, this might
The main transition from then and now is the degree of dependency on the radio. In Mendelsohn’s article written in 1964, he listed the functions of why people listened to radio and the same functions apply to now. For example, for commuters or anyone who drives long or short distances on the road, the radio can “bracket” the day for people, serve as a companion by listening to the hosts, or regulate one’s mood (Mendelsohn, 1964). The radio can provide people with an overview of the day before they head out to work and then provide a preview of the news of the day on the drive back from work. Depending on the radio station, one will hear more about global news or pop culture news. Those who use the radio as a companion can listen to the radio hosts to fill a routine or boring task and those who use the radio to regulate their moods can tune into channels with upbeat or calming music. These functions are still why people listen and depend on the