Question

Background: The electronic epoch began with the invention of the telegraph in 1896. This device used radio waves to carry messages in Morse code and this discovery paved the way for broadcast radio, which became increasingly popalar in the 1920s. In addition to broadcasting weather and news reports, radio stations often had in-house orchestras and aired live music daily. Families gathered around the radio to listen to evening programs such as Amos N'Andy, The Lome Ranger, The Green Hornet, or President Roosevelt's fireside chats. On the 30% of October in 1938, Orson Welles produced, hosted, and acted in the most famous single radio broadcast of all time, an adaptation of H.G. Well's science fiction novel, The War of the Worlds. Instead of just acting out the novel, he broadcasted it in a news format, which lead people, especially those who missed the opening disclaimer, to believe his account of battles between Martians and the U.S. Army were real. This created panic amongst citizens Directions: Listen to this famous broadcast from the &-minute mark to the 27-minute mark and thoroughly respond to the following questions 1. How would you react if you heard this live in 1938? 2. What sound effects make this broadcast believable? 3. In terms of people's reactions to the broadcast, do you think something like this (mass panic] could happen today (2017-2019)? If yes, why? If no, why not? 4. How could you, back in 1938, verify the information? 5. If this broadcasted live, today, how would you verify the information? 6. How does the technology we have today influence how we receive and react to information? (Be specific.) State an example of mass panic caused by the media within last 15 years. How is this reaction similar to and different from the reaction caused by the War of the Worlds broadcast? 7.

Answer 1

1) My reaction after listening that live in 1938 is that I will be afraid and tensed that what will happen if anything goes worng. I will be in a panic state and I will go talk with my family friends and neighbours what will happen .

2) In war of the worlds novel is like a science fiction horror novel. If the sound effects of alien sounds , gun shots , military bombs etc are present in that broadcast than it is believable.

3) No there will be no panic with people in today's world as today people are relying on television and social media to get information rather radio. So even if they heard on radio they won't panic as they think it as some prank.

4) I have to wait for the next morning to confirm the information of the broadcast on next day news paper and I have to listen to radio to radio too check whether it is true or not. As if it is true the whole day they will be updating on that matter only.

5) If this broadcast is live today I will listen check on TV news ,internet and social media to see whether the info is true or fake.

6) Technology in today world will make us take things light to these kind of news if there is any such attack it will be known to any satellite of any country and even NASA will see some abnormal behaviour in the space. Our Military power is far better than that we had in 1938. So I wont panic but I may have some fear what will happen.