Radio: War of the Worlds CSP (1938)
CSP: War of the Worlds
Read Media Factsheet #176: CSP Radio - War of the Worlds. Answer the following questions:
1) What is the history and narrative behind War of the Worlds?
War of the Worlds was originally a novel by H.G. Wells about a Martian invasion. In 1938, Orson Welles turned it into a radio drama by telling the story through fake news bulletins. It became famous because of how people reacted to it and the debate over how much influence the media can have on audiences.
1) What is the history and narrative behind War of the Worlds?
War of the Worlds was originally a novel by H.G. Wells about a Martian invasion. In 1938, Orson Welles turned it into a radio drama by telling the story through fake news bulletins. It became famous because of how people reacted to it and the debate over how much influence the media can have on audiences.
2) When was it first broadcast and what is the popular myth regarding the reaction from the audience?
It was first broadcast on 30th October 1938. The popular myth is that thousands of Americans believed the Martian invasion was real, fled their homes in panic, crowded the streets and phoned the police and newspapers to find out where they would be safe.
3) How did the New York Times report the reaction the next day?
The New York Times reported that there had been a wave of mass hysteria. It claimed that people rushed out of their homes, traffic was disrupted, police phone lines were flooded and some adults even needed medical treatment because they thought the invasion was real.
4) How did author Brad Schwartz describe the the broadcast and its reaction?
Brad Schwartz said the panic wasn't completely a myth, calling it "history's first viral-media phenomenon." He also argued that although some people were frightened, the newspapers exaggerated and distorted people's reactions, making the panic seem much bigger than it actually was.
5) Why did Orson Welles use hybrid genres and pastiche and what effect might it have had on the audience?
Welles thought the original story was boring, so he used pastiche by copying the style of radio news broadcasts and mixing it with fictional storytelling. This created a hybrid form that blurred the line between fact and fiction, making the broadcast sound realistic and causing some listeners to believe it was real.
In 1938, people were already worried about another world war after Hitler signed the Munich Agreement. Radio stations regularly interrupted programmes with real news bulletins about Europe, so audiences were used to hearing breaking news. Because of this, Welles' fake news reports sounded believable, and some listeners even thought Germany was invading America.
6) How did world events in 1938 affect the way audiences interpreted the show?
In 1938, people were already worried about another world war after Hitler signed the Munich Agreement. Radio stations regularly interrupted programmes with real news bulletins about Europe, so audiences were used to hearing breaking news. Because of this, Welles' fake news reports sounded believable, and some listeners even thought Germany was invading America.
7) Which company broadcast War of the Worlds in 1938?
CBS Radio as part of the Mercury Theatre on the Air.
8) Why might the newspaper industry have deliberately exaggerated the response to the broadcast?
The newspaper industry saw radio as a threat because it was attracting more audiences and advertising. By exaggerating the panic, newspapers could make radio look irresponsible and unreliable, which may have encouraged advertisers and the public to trust newspapers instead.
9) Does War of the Worlds provide evidence to support the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle theory?
Yes, because some listeners accepted the broadcast as real without questioning it. However, its stated later research suggests the panic was exaggerated and that people's reactions were influenced by the social and political context, so it doesn't fully support the theory.
10) How might Gerbner's cultivation theory be applied to the broadcast?
Gerbner's theory suggests that people who had become used to hearing frequent radio news interruptions were more likely to believe Welles' fake news bulletins. Because they had heard similar broadcasts about Europe in the weeks before, they accepted them as real.
11) Applying Hall's Reception Theory, what could be the preferred and oppositional readings of the original broadcast?
The preferred reading is that the audience understands the broadcast as a fictional radio drama made for entertainment, which is what Welles intended. The oppositional reading is that some listeners rejected this meaning and believed it was a real news report about an invasion.
12) Do media products still retain the ability to fool audiences as it is suggested War of the Worlds did in 1938? Has the digital media landscape changed this?
Yes, media products can still mislead audiences today, although in different ways. Today, social media and fake news can still spread misinformation quickly, but audiences are generally more media-literate and have more ways to fact-check information than people did in 1938.
Media Magazine article on War of the Worlds
Read this article on War of the Worlds in Media Magazine- MM69 - page 10. Answer the following questions:
1) What reasons are provided for why the audience may have been scared by the broadcast in 1938?
People trusted the radio because it was their main source of news, comfort and entertainment, with four out of five homes owning one. Welles also used realistic radio conventions like breaking news bulletins, expert interviews and vox pops, which made the broadcast sound authentic. On top of that, many people tuned in late and missed the disclaimer saying it was fictional. The Great Depression and growing tensions in Europe also meant people were already anxious, making it easier to believe the broadcast.
2) How did newspapers present the story?
Newspapers presented the broadcast as a hoax that had caused nationwide panic and mass hysteria. They used dramatic and emotional headlines about people fainting, fleeing and even attempting suicide. The article suggests they exaggerated the audience's reaction on purpose to make radio seem dangerous and irresponsible.
3) How does the article describe the rise of radio?
The article says radio became extremely popular during the 1930s because it brought news, music and entertainment straight into people's homes. It was quicker and more realistic than newspapers because people could hear events as they happened. As radio grew, newspapers worried they would lose readers and advertising money, so they saw it as a major threat.
4) What does the article say about regulation of radio in the 1930s?
Because radio was still quite new, many people thought it needed more regulation. Older generations worried that unregulated radio could negatively influence audiences, especially young people. After the War of the Worlds broadcast, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigated CBS, but after five weeks it found that the broadcaster had done nothing wrong.
5) How does the article apply media theories to the WOTW? Give examples.
The article links War of the Worlds to several media theories. It mentions Bandura's Media Effects theory, explaining that people often believe the media can directly influence audiences. It also applies Gerbner's Cultivation Theory, suggesting that the story became so famous because newspapers kept repeating it, which reinforced the idea of mass hysteria. Finally, it uses Hall's Reception Theory, arguing that different audiences interpreted the broadcast differently. Some accepted it as entertainment, while others believed it was real and panicked.
6) Look at the box on page 13 of real newspaper headlines. Pick out two and write them here - you could use these in an exam answer.
1) Why do you think the 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds has become such a significant moment in media history?
I think it became such a significant moment because it showed how powerful the media could be. Even though the audience reaction was later found to be exaggerated by newspapers, the broadcast started a debate about whether media can influence people's behaviour. It is still studied today because it links to theories like the Hypodermic Needle theory, Cultivation theory and Reception theory, and it also raises questions about fake news and media trust.
2) War of the Worlds feels like a 1938 version of 'fake news'. But which is the greater example of fake news - Orson Welles's use of radio conventions to create realism or the newspapers exaggerating the audience reaction to discredit radio?
I think the newspapers were the bigger example of fake news. Welles never intended to trick people permanently and the broadcast included disclaimers saying it was fictional. The newspapers, however, exaggerated the audience's reaction and published dramatic headlines to make radio seem dangerous because they saw it as a threat to their own industry.
3) Do you agree with the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle theory? If not, was there a point in history audiences were more susceptible to believing anything they saw or heard in the media?
I don't fully agree with the Hypodermic Needle theory because audiences don't all react in the same way. War of the Worlds proves this, as some people panicked while others recognised it as entertainment. However, I do think audiences in the 1930s were more likely to trust the media because radio was their main source of information and there were fewer ways to fact-check what they heard.
4) Has the digital media age made the Hypodermic Needle model more or less relevant? Why?
I think the digital media age has made the theory less relevant because people now have access to lots of different sources and can factcheck information more easily, unlike in the 1930s. However, social media can also spread misinformation very quickly, so some people may still accept false information without questioning it. Overall, audiences today are generally more active than passive.
5) Do you agree with George Gerbner's Cultivation theory - that suggests exposure to the media has a gradual but significant effect on audience's views and beliefs? Give examples to support your argument.
Yes, I think Cultivation theory is relevant because repeated messages in the media can shape how people see the world. For example, constant coverage of crime can make people believe crime is more common than it really is. With War of the Worlds, the repeated newspaper stories about mass panic helped create the lasting belief that the whole country was terrified, even though later research suggested this was exaggerated.
6) Is Gerbner's Cultivation theory more or less valid today than it would have been in 1938? Why?
I think it is even more valid today because people are more exposed to media almost constantly on social media, television and online news. Repeated messages can influence opinions over time, especially when algorithms keep showing similar content. In 1938, radio was the main source of information, but today people consume much more media every day, so cultivation may have an even greater effect.
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