The early history of US international broadcasting from the start of World War II

Abstract

At the time the US entered into world War II in 1941, there were eleven shortwave international broadcasting stations in the US, all privately owned by companies or foundations. Recognizing the psychological warfare potential of these facilities, the US Office of War Information (OWI), an agency under the Executive Office of the President, negotiated operating contracts with the owners and established studios in New York and San Francisco to provide government programming. This was the origination of the Voice of America. At the same time, budget requests were made to the US Congress and funds appropriated for shortwave facilities expansion and for certain overseas stations operated by the overseas branch of the OWI. The operational and expansion programs which increased the number of shortwave transmitters to 36 in eight station sites by the end of World War II are reviewed. At the end of the war, the OWI was replaced by the US Information Agency (USIA) with its international broadcast service operating the Voice of America. The further expansion of shortwave broadcasting under USIA is outlined. >