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A Survey of Science Content in U.S. Radio Broadcasting, 1920s through 1940s

During the formative years of radio broadcasting in the United States, information about science and medicine was initially packaged in formats common to educational settings, such as talks by individual scientists. Broadcasters eventually developed more appealing presentation approaches, adapting to the American listeners'expressed preference for drama and fast-paced entertainment, although the scientific community often hesitated to participate in such efforts to reach mass audiences. This survey of U.S. radio programming examines informational science series, broadcast from the 1920s through the 1940s, and the role played by key individuals, associations, and corporate underwriters. It identifies several trends pertinent to understanding the state of popular science communication today and raises questions for future research by historians of science communication.