“War of the Worlds”, a fictional story, was broadcast the night before Halloween in 1938. What began as entertainment soon turned into what appeared to be a real time event. The story had convinced thousands of people the world was being attacked by aliens. People were dying and the military could not stop them. The fictional story was mistaken for reality by many listeners and terror ensued. Because of this confusion, “War of the Worlds” has been deemed a notable occurrence in the mass media culture.
Radio was a meaningful form of mass communication for many listeners. Often times, listeners formed a relationship with the voices heard on the radio. Although this relationship had very little personal connection, it was still relied upon heavily. Listeners trusted the voice on the radio to inform them. The relay of information was vital to staying connected in the ever changing world. The general public finally had another outlet providing news and entertainment besides the newspaper. Newspapers often swayed individuals with wording, headlines, and bias. People felt
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Although the number of individuals tuned in was small, the reaction many experienced was telling of the larger population. Of the listeners, some believed the alien invasion to be real. Those individuals began packing bags, warning neighbors, friends, family, and even fleeing their homes. The panic and fear of the imaginary event was real. People packed the streets of New York City, while in Trenton thousands called the police department. Once the information proved to be a hoax, those who believed it were in shock. They accepted what they had heard without question because of their unrealistic relationship. Listeners believed in what the radio told them and thought it was a reliable way to keep up on world events. It had never crossed their minds to question it