Contested airwaves : American radio at home and abroad, 1914-1946 / Michael A. Krysko.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Krysko, Michael A., 1969- author.

Series:

History of media and communication

The history of media and communication

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Radio broadcasting--United States--History--20th century.

Radio broadcasting.

Ethnic radio broadcasting--United States--History--20th century.

Ethnic radio broadcasting.

Foreign radio stations--United States--History--20th century.

Foreign radio stations.

Radio broadcasting--Political aspects--United States.

Radio audiences--United States--History--20th century.

Radio audiences.

Radio programs--United States--Public opinion.

Radio programs.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 253 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2025]

Summary:

"Controversial American-led radio initiatives sparked a kaleidoscope of conflicts and rivalries from the medium's earliest days through the end of World War II. Michael Krysko explores how the medium first engaged and then encouraged listeners to draw on their existing knowledge, assumptions, and prejudices to reach conclusions about foreign and unwelcome radio content. Krysko looks at Americans' antagonism toward non-English language broadcasting; issues of identity, geography, and sovereignty behind US opposition to Mexico's border blaster stations; how a project aimed at helping Cajun-speaking listeners became a French-only celebration of Acadian culture; the failed Basic English program in Latin America; conflicts between and within Panamanian and American radio interests; and how a US-Cuba treaty on radio reception caused an uproar among farmers in the Southwest. Paying particular attention to the act of listening, Krysko shows how these initiatives illuminated and solidified divisions rooted in identity, nationalism, and prejudice. Clear and wide-ranging, Contested Airwaves reveals early radio's place at the nexus of public programming, transnational relations, and its own evolution as a communication medium"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction : “The microphone is mightier than the machine gun” : Visions of cooperation and realities of conflict in early American radio

“Broadcasting in the language of the enemies of civilization” : Foreign language broadcasting and American radio, 1920–1940

“An invasion by radio is crossing the Mexican border” : John Brinkley, border blasters, and the geography of American national identity in the 1930s

“To help the French speaking people of Louisiana” : Language, education, and identity in the French radio project at Louisiana State University, 1938–1940

“An efficient way to spread Shakespeare’s beautiful language” : “Basic English,” language education, and American international radio, 1935–1941

“A workable scheme to quiet the Panaman clamor” : US radio policy in Panama in the shadow of the world wars

“An almost unbelievable disregard of the interests of the United States listeners and broadcasters” : US-Cuban relations, American identities, and the 1946 North American regional broadcasting agreement

Conclusion : From “whistling and singing ‘La Paloma’” to “no way, José” : A century of continuity and change in communications, identity, and borders.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Online resource; title form PDF title page (JSTOR, viewed April 24, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version: Krysko, Michael A., 1969- Contested airwaves

ISBN:

9780252047701

0252047702

OCLC:

1453504089

Publisher Number:

CIPO000195527