Postdoctoral Fellowship in History and Philosophy of Science

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Dr. Smulyan is examining the origins and organization of the American mass electronic media. The familiar forms of radio and television resulted from several factors. Dr. Smulyan is examining how these factors combined to produce the first system of broadcasting financed through the sale of time to advertisers. Why and how did American broadcasting, which began free of advertisements, become commercialized? How did this decision affect and how was it affected by the choice of technology to provide a national radio service? The technology chosen was wired networks. This choice changed programming and caused broadcasters to seek advertising to fund radio. Wired national radio brought larger companies as sponsors, more expensive air time, harder hitting commercials, and big stars with proven appeal. Despite protests, the 1934 Communications Act endorsed broadcasting's domination by wired networks and by advertisers. By working in the Division of Electricity of the National Museum of American History, Dr. Smulyan will gain additional training in history of technology and access to important manuscripts and periodicals in order better to incorportate the technical with the social, business and cultural factors affecting the course of radio's development.