Radiolab
On [The Divided Dial]: Fishing In The Night
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- Shortwave radio, though less known, has played a critical role in shaping global politics historically.
- The medium of shortwave once held utopian ideals for global communication but has been fragmented and misused for propaganda.
- Shortwave radio's history intersects with significant wartime efforts and government-controlled narratives during pivotal moments like World War II and the Cold War.
- Currently, the platform is being leveraged by fringe groups and commercial interests, raising concerns about the future of public discourse on airwaves.
Summary
Introduction to Shortwave Radio
In this episode, Radio Lab introduces listeners to shortwave radio, a medium less popular than AM and FM but with the ability to reach much greater distances. The hosts, Matt Kilti and journalist Katie Thornton, reflect on shortwave's history and its significance in shaping geopolitics throughout the 20th century.
The Promise and Challenges of Shortwave
Katie discusses her research into shortwave radio, revealing its past promise as a means for global communication and connection. However, state leaders and extremist groups have co-opted shortwave for propaganda purposes, mirroring challenges seen with the internet. Katie emphasizes how the medium once connected people worldwide, but has since become fragmented and misused.
Exploring the History of Shortwave
The podcast details the journey of shortwave radio from its early days as a means of international communication to its role in wartime and political propaganda. Listeners learn about how shortwave broadcast had been used by governments, specifically during World War II and the Cold War, reflecting both ideological battles and the quest for influence.
The Influence of Radio on Modern Politics
The conversation transitions to the impact shortwave radio has had on contemporary politics, particularly focusing on how right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists have found a niche within its frequencies. The segment hints at an ongoing struggle for ownership of the airwaves and the implications for public discourse.
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Show notes
Have you heard On the Media’s Peabody-winning series The Divided Dial?
It’s awesome and you should, and now you will. In this episode they tell the story of shortwave radio: the way-less-listened to but way-farther-reaching cousin of AM and FM radio. The medium was once heralded as a utopian, international, and instantaneous mass communication tool — a sort of internet-before-the-internet.
But, like the internet, many people quickly saw the power of this new technology and found ways to harness it. State leaders turned it into a propaganda machine, weaponizing the airwaves to try and shape politics around the world. And as shortwave continued to evolve, like the internet, it became fragmented, easily accessible, and right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists and cult leaders found homes on the different shortwave frequencies.
And even today - again, like the internet - people with money are looking to buy up this mass-communication tool in the hopes of … making more money.
This is episode one from the second season of The Divided Dial a limited series from On The Media.
- Listen on Spotify (https://zpr.io/hKCcFEGTLb5a)
- Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://zpr.io/tQ86YmEmiivR)
- Listen on the WNYC App (iTunes, Android)
- Listen to the full Divided Dial series (https://www.onthemedia.org/dial)
- Follow On The Media on Instagram @onthemedia
The Divided Dial was supported in part by a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism.
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