War of the Worlds

 Media Factsheet

Read Media Factsheet #176: CSP Radio - War of the Worlds. You'll need your Greenford Google login to download it. Then answer the following questions:

1) What is the history and narrative behind War of the Worlds?

War of the Worlds began as a science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells in 1898.It tells the story of a Martian invasion of Earth.In 1938 Orson Welles adapted the story into a radio drama presented as a series of realistic news bulletins describing the invasion

2) When was it first broadcast and what is the popular myth regarding the reaction from the audience?

It was first broadcasted on 30 October 1938.The popular myth is that millions of Americans believed the invasion was real and panicked and left their homes

3) How did the New York Times report the reaction the next day?

The New York Times reported that the broadcast caused widespread panic,claiming listeners believed the fictional reports and reacted with fear and confusion

4) How did author Brad Schwartz describe the the broadcast and its reaction?

Brad Schwartz argued that the panic was greatly exaggerated.He found that while some listeners were frightened or confused,there was no nationwide reports

5) Why did Orson Welles use hybrid genres and pastiche and what effect might it have had on the audience?

Welles combined science fiction with realistic news reporting,using hybrid genres and pastiche to make the drama seem authentic which made audiences struggle to understand the full difference between whats real and fake

6) How did world events in 1938 affect the way audiences interpreted the show?

In 1938,tensions before the Second World War were increasing with many Americans worried about conflict in Europe.This could mean that since audiences were already scared they took the show more seriously

7) Which company broadcast War of the Worlds in 1938?

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).

8) Why might the newspaper industry have deliberately exaggerated the response to the broadcast?

Newspapers saw radio as a growing competitor for advertising revenue.By exaggerating the panic they could portray radio as irresponsible and unreliable while making newspapers appear to be the more trustworthy source of news

9) Does War of the Worlds provide evidence to support the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle theory?

I believe it provides a lot of evidence because of the fact that many listeners were super scared of the actual concept of war of the worlds

10) How might Gerbner's cultivation theory be applied to the broadcast?

Gerbner's cultivation theory suggests long-term exposure to media shapes people's perceptions of reality.Regular listeners trusted radio news meaning that when the broadcast imitated a genuine news idea some people were more likely to believe it 

11) Applying Hall's Reception Theory, what could be the preferred and oppositional readings of the original broadcast?

Preferred reading:The audience believes the broadcast is realistic and accepts the messages as genuine news.

Oppositional reading:The audience recognises it is fictional entertainment and rejects the idea that the invasion is real.

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 through fake news for example AI-generated content and misinformation on social media.However the digital media landscape also allows people to fact-check information quickly using multiple sources such as google

Media Magazine article on War of the Worlds

Read this excellent article on War of the Worlds in Media Magazine. You can find it in our Media Magazine archive - issue 69, page 10. Answer the following questions:

1) What reasons are provided for why the audience may have been scared by the broadcast in 1938? 

The programme interrupted normal entertainment with realistic news many listeners tuned in after the introduction because radio was a highly trusted source of information and international tensions before the Second World War made emergency reports seem believable.

2) How did newspapers present the story? 

Newspapers described the broadcast as causing nationwide panic and chaos which published dramatic headlines about terrified listeners to make radio seem unsafe

3) How does the article describe the rise of radio? 

It explains that radio became the dominant form of home entertainment during the 1930s

4) What does the article say about regulation of radio in the 1930s? 

Radio was regulated weakly as broadcasters had considerable freedom in how they presented programmes which allowed fictional broadcasts to imitate real news reports.

5) How does the article apply media theories to the WOTW? Give examples.

-Hypodermic Needle Theory because some believed audiences accepted the messages directly and panicked

-Cultivation Theory due to radio's reputation being as a trusted source meant listeners were more likely to believe realistic news bulletins

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.

-"Radio Fake Scares Nation."

-"Terror by Radio."