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Articles on Media history

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Mpho Molutsi from the Children’s Radio Foundation during a live community broadcast in Johannesburg. Gulshan Khan/AFP/Getty Images

100 years of radio in Africa: from propaganda to people’s power

With a dramatic political history, radio is today the number one source of news in Africa.
When Frank Conrad broadcast the results of the 1920 presidential election, he had no idea that politics would be forever transformed. Bettmann via Getty Images

100 years ago, the first commercial radio broadcast announced the results of the 1920 election – politics would never be the same

For centuries, people largely read politicians’ words. But with the advent of radio, the ability of politicians to engage and entertain became crucial components of their candidacies.
Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Clinton has a cup of coffee with newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin in April 1992. Breslin died on March 19. Stephan Savoia/AP Photo

Should journalism become less professional?

After the death of legendary New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin, some have lamented the end of blue-collar journalism. But in today’s media environment, Breslin’s approach might not be enough.
The Starship Enterprise, the famed setting of the original ‘Star Trek’ series, was almost lost to the graveyard of failed pilots. alanoodle.com

How ‘Star Trek’ almost failed to launch

With a pilot that was deemed too complex and cerebral, ‘Star Trek’ looked dead in the water. Fifty years later, we look back at the show’s rocky beginnings.
Carols by Candlelight is a fixture of the Australian festive season. AAP Image/Alan Porritt

Carols by Candlelight defines the Aussie Christmas on the couch

The strange northern hemisphere tradition of the television “Christmas Special” is somewhat alien to us on this end of the world. No Mr Bean with a turkey on his head or fantastically awkward Christmas…

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