Spooked!
How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America
Astra Publishing House · Print & ebook · August 7, 2018
A Washington Post Best Children's Book This book for young readers explores in riveting detail the false panic created by the famous War of the Worlds radio broadcast from 1938—as well as the repercussions of "fake news" today.
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- Who it’s for
- A radio drama’s false alarm opens a clear-eyed look at panic, propaganda, and fake news.
- Themes
- Fake news and propaganda, Mass panic, Radio and media
- Genres
- 20th Century U.S., TV & Radio, Media & Pop Culture
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Start with this bookAbout this book
A Washington Post Best Children's Book This book for young readers explores in riveting detail the false panic created by the famous War of the Worlds radio broadcast from 1938—as well as the repercussions of "fake news" today. On the night of October 30, 1938, thousands of Americans panicked when they believed that Martians had invaded Earth.
Continue reading
What appeared to be breaking news about an alien invasion was in fact a radio drama based on H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds, performed by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre players. Some listeners became angry once they realized they had been tricked, and the reaction to the broadcast sparked a national discussion about fake news, propaganda, and the role of radio. In this compelling nonfiction chapter book, Gail Jarrow explores the production of the broadcast, the aftermath, and the concept of "fake news" in the media.
When Radio Fooled
A radio drama’s false alarm opens a clear-eyed look at panic, propaganda, and fake news.
Come here for
- The strange real-life aftershock of a 1938 radio drama
- A bridge from broadcast history to today’s fake-news debates
Expect
- The production, public reaction, and national discussion that followed
- A nonfiction chapter book for young readers
Where it sits
| Media & Pop Culture | 85% |
|---|---|
| TV & Radio | 61% |
| 20th Century U.S. | 58% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- 20th Century U.S.
- TV & Radio
- Media & Pop Culture
- Authors
- Gail Jarrow
- Publisher
- Astra Publishing House
- Published
- August 7, 2018
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Fake news and propaganda · Mass panic · Radio and media
- Reading lane
- 20th Century U.S.