Chapter Review

COMMON THREADS

One of the Common Threads discussed in Chapter 1 is the developmental stages of mass media. Like other mass media, radio evolved in three stages, but it also influenced an important dichotomy in mass media technology: wired versus wireless.

In radio’s novelty stage, several inventors transcended the wires of the telegraph and telephone to solve the problem of wireless communication. In the entrepreneurial stage, inventors tested ship-to-shore radio, while others developed person-to-person toll radio transmissions and other schemes to make money from wireless communication. Finally, when radio stations began broadcasting to the general public (who bought radio receivers for their homes), radio became a mass medium.

As the first electronic mass medium, radio set the pattern for an ongoing battle between wired and wireless technologies. For example, television brought images to wireless broadcasting. Then, cable television’s wires brought television signals to places where receiving antennas didn’t work. Satellite television (wireless from outer space) followed as an innovation to bring TV where cable didn’t exist. Now, broadcast, cable, and satellite all compete against one another.

Similarly, think of how cell phones have eliminated millions of traditional phone, or land, lines. The Internet, like the telephone, also began with wires, but Wi-Fi and home wireless systems are eliminating those wires, too. And radio? Most listeners get traditional local (wireless) radio broadcast signals, but now listeners may use a wired Internet connection to stream Internet radio or download Webcasts and podcasts. The radio industry’s push for the future is to ensure that all mobile phones have enabled FM radio chips so that local radio listening through the Internet can be (again) wireless.

Both wired and wireless technologies have advantages and disadvantages. Do we want the stability and the tethers of a wired connection? Or do we want the freedom and occasional instability (“Can you hear me now?”) of wireless media? Can radio’s development help us understand wired-versus-wireless battles in other media?

KEY TERMS

The definitions for the terms listed below can be found in the glossary at the end of the book. The page numbers listed with the terms indicate where the term is highlighted in the chapter.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Early Technology and the Development of Radio

  1. Question

    Why was the development of the telegraph important in media history? What were some of the disadvantages of telegraph technology?

    Why was the development of the telegraph important in media history? What were some of the disadvantages of telegraph technology?
  2. Question

    How is the concept of wireless different from that of radio?

    How is the concept of wireless different from that of radio?
  3. Question

    What was Guglielmo Marconi’s role in the development of wireless telegraphy?

    What was Guglielmo Marconi’s role in the development of wireless telegraphy?
  4. Question

    What were Lee De Forest’s contributions to radio?

    What were Lee De Forest’s contributions to radio?
  5. Question

    Why were there so many patent disputes in the development of radio?

    Why were there so many patent disputes in the development of radio?
  6. Question

    Why was the RCA monopoly formed?

    Why was the RCA monopoly formed?
  7. Question

    How did broadcasting, unlike print media, come to be federally regulated?

    How did broadcasting, unlike print media, come to be federally regulated?

The Evolution of Radio

  1. Question

    What was AT&T’s role in the early days of radio?

    What was AT&T’s role in the early days of radio?
  2. Question

    How did the radio networks develop? What were the contributions of David Sarnoff and William Paley to network radio?

    How did the radio networks develop? What were the contributions of David Sarnoff and William Paley to network radio?
  3. Question

    Why did the government-sanctioned RCA monopoly end?

    Why did the government-sanctioned RCA monopoly end?
  4. Question

    What is the significance of the Radio Act of 1927 and the Communications Act of 1934?

    What is the significance of the Radio Act of 1927 and the Communications Act of 1934?

Radio Reinvents Itself

  1. Question

    How did radio adapt to the arrival of television?

    How did radio adapt to the arrival of television?
  2. Question

    What was Edwin Armstrong’s role in the advancement of radio technology? Why did RCA hamper Armstrong’s work?

    What was Edwin Armstrong’s role in the advancement of radio technology? Why did RCA hamper Armstrong’s work?
  3. Question

    How did music on radio change in the 1950s?

    How did music on radio change in the 1950s?
  4. Question

    What is format radio, and why was it important to the survival of radio?

    What is format radio, and why was it important to the survival of radio?

The Sounds of Commercial Radio

  1. Question

    Why are there so many radio formats today?

    Why are there so many radio formats today?
  2. Question

    Why did Top 40 radio diminish as a format in the 1980s and 1990s?

    Why did Top 40 radio diminish as a format in the 1980s and 1990s?
  3. Question

    What is the state of nonprofit radio today?

    What is the state of nonprofit radio today?
  4. Question

    Why are performance royalties a topic of debate between broadcast radio, satellite radio, Internet radio, and the recording industry?

    Why are performance royalties a topic of debate between broadcast radio, satellite radio, Internet radio, and the recording industry?
  5. Question

    Why do radio broadcasters want FM radio chips enabled for use in mobile phones?

    Why do radio broadcasters want FM radio chips enabled for use in mobile phones?

The Economics of Broadcast Radio

  1. Question

    What are the current ownership rules governing American radio?

    What are the current ownership rules governing American radio?
  2. Question

    What has been the main effect of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 on radio station ownership?

    What has been the main effect of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 on radio station ownership?
  3. Question

    Why did the FCC create a new class of low-power FM stations?

    Why did the FCC create a new class of low-power FM stations?

Radio and the Democracy of the Airwaves

  1. Question

    Throughout the history of radio, why did the government encourage monopoly or oligopoly ownership of radio broadcasting?

    Throughout the history of radio, why did the government encourage monopoly or oligopoly ownership of radio broadcasting?
  2. Question

    What is the relevance of localism to debates about ownership in radio?

    What is the relevance of localism to debates about ownership in radio?

QUESTIONING THE MEDIA

  1. Question

    Count the number and types of radio stations in your area today. What formats do they use? Do a little research, and find out who are the owners of the stations in your market. How much diversity is there among the highest-rated stations?

    Count the number and types of radio stations in your area today. What formats do they use? Do a little research, and find out who are the owners of the stations in your market. How much diversity is there among the highest-rated stations?
  2. Question

    If you could own and manage a commercial radio station, what format would you choose, and why?

    If you could own and manage a commercial radio station, what format would you choose, and why?
  3. Question

    If you ran a noncommercial radio station in your area, what services would you provide to address needs that are not being met by commercial format radio?

    If you ran a noncommercial radio station in your area, what services would you provide to address needs that are not being met by commercial format radio?
  4. Question

    How might radio be used to improve social and political discussions in the United States?

    How might radio be used to improve social and political discussions in the United States?
  5. Question

    If you were a broadcast radio executive, what arguments would you make in favor of broadcast radio over Internet radio?

    If you were a broadcast radio executive, what arguments would you make in favor of broadcast radio over Internet radio?

LAUNCHPAD FOR MEDIA & CULTURE