Blockchain Registration Transaction Record

Dead Air Recalls Night Orson Welles' Broadcast Terrified America

William Hazelgrove's new book Dead Air explores the 1938 Orson Welles War of the Worlds broadcast that caused mass panic. A masterful account of media power and mass hysteria.

This historical account matters because it reveals how media manipulation and public trust intersect, offering crucial insights for today's digital age where misinformation spreads rapidly. Understanding the 1938 panic helps us recognize similar patterns in modern viral events and fake news crises, showing how easily collective fear can be triggered through compelling storytelling. The book serves as both a cautionary tale and a study of human psychology, reminding us that media literacy and critical thinking remain essential defenses against manipulation, whether from 1930s radio dramas or contemporary social media algorithms.