“HUSH, MOSCOW SPEAKS!”: CAMPAIGNING FOR RADIO ON THE PAGES OF CHILDREN’S MAGAZINES IN THE EARLY SOVIET DECADES

Abstract

The article highlights the problem of the entry of an innovative means of communication for its time into Soviet society. The task is to identify and consider ways to attract children’s attention to radio on the pages of periodicals of the 1920s and 1930s. The main materials used are magazines addressed to schoolchildren, which reflect the official discourse adapted for a children’s audience. Radio is presented in them as a technical means of communication and as a source of information. Among the areas of work of the editorial offices of such publications on radio propaganda are familiarizing children with the innovation, instilling in them an interest in radio technology, attracting listeners, correspondents, and agitators for listening to radio. There is an expansion of the thematic range of publications as the expansion of radio increases, as well as a shift in editorial attention from advertising radio communications and the propaganda of radio technology towards commenting on the content of radio broadcasts. The article shows their connection with the editorial offices of radio programs presented on the pages of children’s periodicals, and the participation of newspapers and magazines in the preparation of broadcasts, which ensured the integrity of the country’s information space and served the effectiveness of educational and ideological work combining the written and spoken word. The propagandized practices of listening to the radio, the communication lines of agitation for radio with the organization of pioneer work, its ideology, including social “reforging”, anti-religious propaganda and work with street children, have been identified. The techniques aimed at attracting children as “agents” of radio communication are shown. Attention is drawn to the use, characteristic features and functional purpose of images of children in artistic and journalistic texts on the topic of radio.