The US Government and the Advertising, Radio, Newspaper, and Magazine Industries Confront the War

Abstract

The entire advertising community, along with the radio, newspaper, and magazine industries, were committed to providing Americans on the home front with timely and accurate information about the perils the nation faced after Pearl Harbor and until the end of hostilities in August 1945. However, they also confronted serious issues of “censorship” because the US Government issued a series of “voluntary” guidelines regarding what could and should not be conveyed to the American public. The newspaper and magazine industries were concerned about any erosion in their prized First Amendment protection; however, radio was excluded from First Amendment protection because of the terms and conditions of the Communications Act of 1934; and advertisements would not receive First Amendment protection until after the end of World War II. Yet it was clear that advertising, radio, newspapers, and magazines essentially complied with the “voluntary suggestions” from various government agencies and departments during this period of great uncertainty. This chapter outlines the “voluntary” guidelines; and how these media industries complied with and contributed to the war effort.