From Hertz to Limbaugh: The History of Radio

Before the age of radio, telegraphs and the early telephone were the most advanced form of communication.  Nothing else really came close.  But around the late 1800’s, scientists were getting closer and closer to a breakthrough.  A way that you could wirelessly communicate a message, something never done before.  Enter: Heinrich Hertz.

Heinrich Hertz, from URL

Hertz first discovered electromagnetic radiation in the 1880’s. The term “radio” didn’t really settle in until later on, but everyone knew that what he discovered was special.  Radio waves were a way to wirelessly telegraph a message, something never done before.  It was actually first called “space telegraphy” by some, because of how mind blowing the revelation was.

Others after Hertz also influenced the history of radio, like Guglielmo Marconi.  While Marconi was not the first to found the radio broadcasting industry, he certainly changed it.  Marconi was able to transmit speech, rather than dots and dashes. He wanted to create an international monopoly with his invention, but the U.S. government which had been his biggest client, opposed the idea.

Guglielmo Marconi, from URL

Reginald Fessenden was a Canadian scientist who in the very early 1900’s, piggybacked upon the advancements made by Marconi and was able to successfully broadcast speech to multiple receptors.  He transmitted radio waves all the way from Massachusetts to the West Indies, and following his breakthrough, navies and shipping companies lined up to purchase Fessenden’s equipment.

Reginald Fessenden, from URL

Another breakthrough came a few years later, as in the 1910’s a man named Lee deForest was able to invent something called the vacuum tube.  This made the commercial radio broadcasting industry possible, because the tube made it much more efficient to broadcast these waves long distances.

Lee deForest, from URL

Fast forward to today, where the radio industry isn’t what it used to be but is still used every day in daily life.  After the commercial musical radio industry boomed around WWII, today music is the main purpose of radio broadcasting.  

There are both pros and cons to radio broadcasting, but very few cons.  The only glaringly negative aspect of radio is that when used for political purposes, it can be used to broadcast radical beliefs and potentially alter the view of individuals for the gain of corporations or organizations.  Ever since the fairness doctrine was repealed, political radio has become more and more divided.

The benefits of radio far outweighs the cons.  Radio broadcasting has increased the spread of ideas and innovation.  It is now infinitely easier to communicate to others new inventions, as well as for innovators to collaborate with each other in order to bring their ideas to life.  The musical entertainment industry is one of the most lucrative in the world, particularly the United States, and it’s in large part to the development of the world of radio.  68% of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 reported that they listen to music every day, and this is largely due to the fact that music is widely accessible on the radio in cars.  Radio broadcasting has made it possible to reach large audiences at once, and it’s also revolutionized military communication.  All of these things combine to show why radio has been one of the most important revelations in communication in the history of man.