MEDIA STUDIES 3.3.25

The telegraph was initially a wired communication system.
- Early telegraphy involved the transfer of dots and dashes, primarily using Morse Code developed by Samuel Morse.
- A stylus pen was used to communicate codes, which were then decoded by the receiver.

Wireless telegraphy developed from foundational theories by Scottish scientist James Maxwell.
- Maxwell established that electricity, magnetism, light, and heat are intertwined within the electromagnetic spectrum, enabling wireless communication.
- Heinrich Hertz built upon Maxwell's theories and created basic devices to demonstrate wireless communication, essential for telegraphy.

Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian immigrant, advanced wireless telegraph technology by integrating Hertz's work with the telegraph.
- Although wireless telegraphs could transmit Morse code, they were not capable of transmuting voice messages.
Other significant inventors in wireless communication included:
- Alexander Popov (Russian, 1895)
- Nikola Tesla (Serbian), who many credit as a key figure behind technological advancements in radio.
- Tesla received recognition posthumously for his contributions, highlighting the value of securing patents and copyrights.

Lee DeForest, who acquired his PhD at Yale, envisioned radio as a medium for voice and music transmission, distinct from Morse code.
- He created the Audion vacuum tube, which allowed for the amplification and transmission of clearer audio.
Edwin Armstrong is also notable for developing FM radio, yet remained unrecognized at the time, leading to his tragic end.

Reginald Fessenden (Canadian engineer) achieved the first voice broadcast in 1906, transmitting to ships at sea; some mariners mistook it for a supernatural experience.
Early radio was primarily a one-to-one communication channel, eventually evolving into broader broadcasting networks.

The Radio Act of 1912 required all radio stations to be licensed to avoid signal interference, largely stemming from amateur operators.
Over time, radio became essential during World War I, leading to regulatory changes within the industry.
- The Wireless Ship Act of 1910 mandated ships carry radio equipment to enhance maritime safety.

After World War I, the U.S. government acquired American Marconi due to national security concerns, leading to the establishment of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA).
RCA included major companies like General Electric and AT&T that coordinated under public-private partnerships to shape the emerging radio industry.

The Radio Act of 1927 introduced stricter regulations on radio licenses, reinforcing that radio frequencies belong to the public, thereby legitimizing government oversight.
- The Federal Radio Commission (FRC) was established to manage licensing, eventually morphing into the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The establishment of commercial radio stations flourished rapidly from the 1920s, exemplified by stations like KDKA, which began operations in 1920.
- The U.S. media system remains predominantly commercial, with funding sourced from advertisements, contrasting with public broadcasting systems like the BBC in Britain.

David Sarnoff emerged as a foundational figure in radio and television, playing a crucial role in forming major broadcasting networks like NBC, shaping content that influences the current media landscape.