Radio: The Resilient Medium 1/26/15 10:40 PM • Radio developed as a logical extension of the electrical telegraph, which became a reality in the 1840’s. This followed the invention of the electromagnet, which was at the heart of the system developed by Samuel F.B. Morse. • When Morse sent his famous message, “What hath God wrought?” over 40 miles of wire between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the speed with which the information could move changed from that of a train or a flying pigeon to that of lightning. It was a truly startling advance. • Radio shares its early history with the telegraph. The wireless represented the achievement of an ancient dream of conquering both time and long distance to communicate spanned the English Channel in 1897, then the Atlantic in 1901, with a wireless telegraph message. • The new form of telegraphy was an enormously useful device for communicating with ships at sea and with far-flung business, military, and diplomatic enterprises around the globe. • Radio took on an aura of glamour very early when it began being used for rescue efforts at sea. While it would be many years before it would even start to become a household communications medium, it quickly gained a large enthusiastic following in the population. • During the 1920’s, under existing legislation, virtually anyone could obtain a license, build a relatively inexpensive transmitter, and go on the air. Hundreds did so, and soon the airwaves were cluttered with conflicting signals. With considerable reluctance, Congress first passed the Radio Act of 1927 and finally the Federal Communications Act of 1934, which brought radio broadcasting under the technical control of the federal government. • An important problem before radio could be used as a household item is how to pay for the broadcasts. Finally, it was solved that selling airtime to advertisers, a close parallel to selling space to advertisers in the print media, was the best solution. This permitted the development of sponsored shows, regularly scheduled broadcasts, and a star system. • The golden age of radio was in the 1930’s, after the medium matured, but before it was displaced by the television. Worldwide radio news, FM broadcasting, and the ultimate adjustment of radio to its current format and style were all important developments during this time. • Radio is surviving well, largely as a local medium. It has successfully become a player in the digital age, drawing on the benefits of the Internet while continuing itscost-efficient over-the-air transmission. Listening is widespread from shows, news, and sports, with the majority listening to FM stations. • Radio has many predictable formats, which are linked to specialized content and are aimed at particular demographic groups. • New technologies based on satellite transmission were introduced in 2000, and the two major satellite firms merged in 2008. Satellite radio is a subscription service with multichannel offerings free of commercials and high quality sound. Internet radio and podcasting are also expanding the reach of radio. • Other new technologies have enriched radio, such as HD radio, Internet radio, and mobile radio. • Radio’s future seems secure. It has worked out its own niche in our system of mass communications. It is flexible and capable of responding to changes that may come in the future. At present, in financial terms, radio is enjoying a period of relative