Citation

Beuick MD. Am. J. Sociol. 1927; 32(4): 615-622.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1927, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/214187

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The public has been led to believe that radio broadcasting is creating a social revolution. One-fifth of the population are "listeners." There are about 20,000,000 potential broadcast listeners and about 600 broadcasting stations, but they are only affecting markedly a limited group such as isolated dwellers. There are fundamental things in human nature that will prevent broadcasting from wielding any greater influence on us than the phonograph has. Radio does not make us congregate. Radio does not satisfy man's desire to congregate with other persons in the mutual enjoyment of music, games, etc. Broadcasting cannot compete with other amusements. Broadcasting does not encourage association or herding, and can, therefore, never compete injuriously with the theater, the concert, the church, or the motion picture. Radio's greatest benefit is to isolated persons. It will, however, serve most effectively the sightless, the bed-ridden, the farmer, and the deaf [sic].