then and now kmh
TRANSCRIPT
Then and Now
Kirstin HeinleApril 29, 2009
FDR presidencyLeo Frank lynching
XX
War of the Worlds (radio broadcast)
• October 30, 1938• CBS radio network• Directed and narrated by Orson Welles• Adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the
Worlds• Depicted Martian invasion • 60 minute show
– Simulated news bulletin– No commercials
Plot summary
• “Ordinary show”• Meteorite lands in Grover’s Mill, New
Jersey• Crowd gathers• Carl Phillips (character) reports• Meteorite unscrews, Martian emerges
and “heat-rays” audience• Ends with radio operator asking “Is
anyone there??”
War of the Worlds (a clip)
Public reaction
• 6 million listeners • Most people only listened to
portion of show• Newspapers exaggerated issue
–Threatened by radio broadcasting• Concrete, Washington
–Power outage same time as broadcast–People thought world was ending
NYT headline following day
That was then…here is now
• "There is (now) a suspicion and a cynicism toward information that was not the case in 1938.”
--Robert Thompson, professor of media and culture,
Syracuse University
So much information!
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Let’s have some fun…
CONSPIRACY THEORY
But, of course..
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.+
Leak report to AP
• KEY WORDS:• Desert• Life• Mysterious• Landing• Speculation• Investigation• Alien
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Media Frenzy
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
• History of UFO’s• UFO sightings• Interview people
who have seen sightings
• Gov’t plans
TV News
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
In the meantime…
Gov’t is tracking searchesIssuing anonymous surveys throughout
Internet
Blogosphere Delirium
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Social Networking before “the end”
Microblog Madness
After four years of coaching, the squirrel in my yard finally approached me. Now we’re all going to die. FML
After four years of coaching, the squirrel in my yard finally approached me. Now we’re all going to die. FML
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Follow-up dead ends
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
We apologize for any confusion.
How do you get rid of a story?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Ain’t America great?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.