How did the right get their vice grip of the airwaves, all the while arguing that they were being silenced and censored by a liberal media? This week, we look at the early history of American radio to reveal that censorship of far-right and progressive voices alike was once common on radio. And reporter Katie Thornton explains how, in the post-war and Civil Rights period, the US government encouraged more diverse viewpoints on the airwaves — until it didn’t. Plus, the technological and legal changes that led to conservative talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh taking over the airwaves.
*This episode is an adaptation of our latest series, The Divided Dial. *You can listen to the full series here). **
*The Divided Dial is reported and hosted by journalist and Fulbright Fellow Katie Thornton. You can follow her work on Instagram) or on her website). **The Divided Dial was edited by On the Media's executive producer, Katya Rogers. With production support from Max Balton and fact-checking by Tom Colligan, Sona Avakian, and Graham Hacia. Music and sound design by Jared Paul. Jennifer Munson is our technical director. Art by Michael Brennan). *With support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism).
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm)). Follow our show on Instagram), Twitter) and Facebook) @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing [email protected].
