“The London Blitz Described by Edward R. Murrow.” YouTube Video, 2:42. Posted by “KD,” April 28, 2014.
In this CBS News radio broadcast, Edward R. Murrow describes to the American public an air raid during the London Blitz as it happened. The London Blitz was a nightly bombing campaign of London by the German Air Force. Murrow begins by introducing the sound of air raid sirens and describes where he is broadcasting from. He explains the atmosphere of the scene and how people are reacting to the raid. He tells of people rushing to get to bomb shelters and of others calmly lighting cigarettes. Murrow’s London broadcasts enabled him to become a trusted reporter to the American public. His reports contributed to moving the American public away from isolationism and towards support for the coming American involvement in the World War.
“KDKA – First Radio Broadcast: Presidential Election Night Broadcast (1920).” YouTube video. 2:21. Posted by “ARCHIVE Radio,” April 11, 2019.
In November 1920, KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, became the first radio station to broadcast the results of a presidential election. In this recreation of the original broadcast, the radio station still relies on two local newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post and Sun, to provide the actual results for the radio station to broadcast. The potential for this new technology to reach the masses was unclear as the reporter seeks feedback from listeners to get a sense of how far their broadcast was reaching.