The 20th century is defined by a number of breakthroughs in technological advancement, including radio and television. But before the advent of the television, it was the radio that made it possible for people around the world to learn about each other through news, music, dramas, interviews and even stories.

There is no doubt that the invention of the radio had a more lasting effect on society than most other media ever will. That’s because radio is not just one medium, it’s hundreds, if not thousands, of different formats all rolled into one.

As we look back on the legacy of this incredible invention, it is important to recognise the inventors who made it possible and the impact their work has had on the world. Let’s dig into the history of radio.

Guglielmo Marconi’s contributions

We all know that radio is the wireless mode of communication. In simple terms, radio sends messages by radio waves, instead of wires, to other devices.

In 1895, Guglielmo Marconi became famous for inventing a system that could send and receive radio signals; however, it wouldn’t have been possible without the men before him hadn’t done their part in the field of radio technology. For instance, in 1860, James Clerk Maxwell predicted that radio waves existed in the atmosphere, and later Heinrich Rudolph Hertz proved it by comparing their existence with that of heat and light waves.

So eventually, Marconi developed the first radio system to send and receive the first radio signals at a long distance. And thereafter, the world saw the next few decades of incredible advancement in radio technology.

How does the radio work?

Radio is a technology that allows users to receive, transmit, and perceive sound using electromagnetic waves. While each form of radio varies in functionality, they all use electromagnetic waves to carry radio signals. These radio signals are then converted into sound using a receiver, which is what the listener hears. While the basic principles of radio are the same across the board, the way they are used and the specific technology used in each form, varies greatly.

For instance, AM and FM, which are methods of modulating (modifying) radio waves to transmit information wirelessly, allow listeners to listen to their favourite show, music or news station. But what do AM and FM stand for?

Let’s not get into the science behind the topic, but for clarification AM radio uses amplitude modulation, which refers to the means of encoding the audio signal on the carrier frequency. It is cheaper so still used in many countries for radio broadcasting, the sound quality is also not very good.

While FM stands for frequency modulation, in which the information is transmitted in variations in the carrier wave frequency. The system is expensive, but the quality of sound is very clear and loud. These different methods of modulation allow for different types of reception. Satellite radio uses frequency modulation, while internet streaming radio uses digital modulation.

Satellite radio

Satellite radio is a technology that uses the earth’s orbit to broadcast radio signals. Because the signals are transmitted from satellites rather than from a terrestrial transmitter, they have much greater range than AM or FM signals.

Satellite radio signals are converted from digital to analogue using a receiver, just as AM and FM signals are. The signals can be received by a satellite radio receiver that is located anywhere in the world. This means that a person can tune into music, news, sports, talk shows and more, wherever they are located.

Satellite radio is a great way to get a variety of programming without having to rely on the same radio stations that are available in your hometown.

Internet streaming radio

An internet streaming radio service is exactly what it sounds like — it’s a radio station that streams audio via the internet. These stations could be streaming anything, from music to talk shows to sports. Because the audio is streamed from a remote location rather than from a local broadcast transmitter, internet streaming radio stations have a much greater range than traditional AM or FM stations.

Popularity of radio

Radio made its debut years before World War I — it was mostly used for maritime and aircraft navigation for transmitting messages via Morse code. But during World War II, it became the most popular medium for spreading propaganda news, advertisement and also other entertainment, like music and drama.

How radio changed the way we communicate

As the first successful wireless communication system, the radio played a crucial role in the development of modern communication and led to the development of cable and satellite communications. The invention didn’t just bring people together; it brought them closer. The fact that so many programmes could be heard simultaneously on one station meant freedom was possible — freedom to move away from your community and experience new things together, whether they were from your own region or from far off regions.

This was the time when education and entertainment got fused and people began to realise that there was a whole world in front of them — all thanks to the device which allowed them to learn about other cultures and societies from the comfort of their home.

The wave of radio RJs

Also called radio jockey, disc jockey, radio host and radio announcer.

To present news and shows or any given information, of course, a host is needed. This job is vital, for the host creates a lasting impression through the content they provide to the people listening to them. RJs play music, interact with listeners, interview artists, discuss current events, etc. An RJ has to impress his/her listeners so they come back again and again to the same station and to the same show.

Radio DJs or RJs aren’t just entertainers or voices on the airwaves; they are great storytellers. They use radio stations as their platforms to tell stories about life in their communities: how people live, how they love their families and friends, their passions, what they dream of becoming and more. People who grew up listening to radio as a child, they surely are in love with it even to this day.

Radio has a long and fascinating history, and it has evolved to become an incredibly diverse medium. From old-fashioned AM radio to modern satellite and internet streaming radios, there is a lot out there to experience. Whether you are looking for music, news, sports, or anything else, radio is likely to have what you are looking from.

World Radio Day

Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). The theme for the 12th edition of the World Radio Day, to be celebrated on 13 February 2023, is “Radio and Peace”.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 11th, 2023