Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-10-22
The Radio U0CensOred
and Free
"a Radio Address Over WMIN)

"a Radio Address Over WMIN)
AS we talk and listen over this new
Radio Station-WMIN-w are re-
minded that radio is very young
giant The first station in the United
States began operation in November
of 1920. The first radio advert ing
was broadcast early in 1923 and the
first commercially sponsored nation
wide broadcast was sent over the air
on New Years day 1925. Not until
1927 was legislative provision made
for the regulation of broadcasting in
this country.
Within the brief span of sixteen
years radio has taken its place among
the major instrumentalities and in
fluences which are re-Shaping Amer
has radio become in this short period
of time? In 1922 there is estimated
to have been $4,000 receiving sets.
And who does not remember how the
patient ones strained at ear-pt ones,
if happily they might catch faint
strains of music or the sound of a
speakers voice? By 1927 there is
estimated to have been 100000 re-
ceiving sets in operation BY 1882
there were 100000 receiving sets
in use. Today it is estimated that
100000 citizens can and do listen
to the voice of a speaker, music, sing
ing, the report of an election, or to
time
Of late years we have heard much
of mass production of goods and arti-
cles and supplies of many kinds.
Radio furnishes striking example
of mass communication In this
cause of its immediacy and intimacy.
Moreover, it is becoming we'll nigh
universal in this country. From a
single point or person in space the
radio message goes out to a vast lis
tening public. 1t is estimated that
the radio audience from day to day
numbers 1S,500,000 families, the men,
bers of whom listen in from two to
four hours per day. And nobody knows
just how many people tune in as they
drive their automobiles
The social and economic effects of
the radio are beyond compute. They
range all the way from the delivery
of spot news in the living room to
crime detection and the pursuit of
criminals. Radio has made it posi-
BILE for every citizen in this country
to eavesdrop in Paris, Berlin, or Lon
don. 1t has brought music and en-
tertainment to the masses and made
neighbors of far distant areas of the
earth. 1t has become one of the
greatest agencies for the dissemina-
ton of knowledge.
Obviously in these few moments l
cannot compass all of the innumer-
able influences of radio in our mod
ern life, but l want to say word
about its effect upon public opinion
and education. During recent years
broadcasting has been the means of
developing a keener and more wide
spread interest in the affairs of state
by the general public.
Interest and knowledge in public
affairs and education are values
which do not trouble us with sur
plus. Rather do they tend to short
ages. But radio greatly quickens
public opinion as one can easily OBJ
serve in the present campaign. Who
does not scan the newspapers eagerly
to find out what political speakers
are to be heard on the radio tonight
tomorrow night or next week?
And when these speakers go OF
the air they talk not so much tt
mobs and masses of people but t.
individuals sitting quietly in thei
homes. The appeal to individual
must be quieter and saner and calme
than it is to crowds. 1t has BEEF
wisely observed that the microphon
lis the deadly enemy of the dema
gogues. 1t is not a good medium flo
"hokum" and the rabble-rousel
Tricks of voice and manner, emotio
and passion have little appeal upo
the radio; the mike" soon reveal
the slightest trace of trickery, shar
or insincerity And by a slight tur
of the dial it is easy to cut off tn
demagogue and the charlatan.
So / believe the radio is develop
ing a new type of politician an
statesman. He will be simple an
direct, clear and sincere. The weazt
words and phrases are insinceritie
of the past. Radio will not harbo