Continuous Wave

A newsletter and site exploring the forgotten history of broadcast and how it shapes our world. Subscribers get exclusive posts every month.

Featured

Jun 11, 2026

Sweet Deceit

How radio sound effects escaped containment into “the real world”

Julia Barton

Apr 30, 2026

When Actors Did the News

Time Magazine and their ad agencies re-enacted events and people, fake accents and all. But their news show wasn't a parody.

Julia Barton, +1

Apr 16, 2026

What Does Talent Cost?

Awkward conversations about money could be made easier with time travel

Julia Barton

Mar 1, 2026

You Burned the City

Just before the US entered World War II, CBS held a dinner for Edward R. Murrow. It's more important than ever to read the words spoken that night.

Julia Barton

Apr 10, 2025

No Self-Winding Phonographs!

Radio's "liveness bias" started as a regulation, then turned into a business model that grew ever more absurd

Julia Barton

May 22, 2025

The Sound of Her Voice

How sexism got hard-wired into radio

Julia Barton

Story Vault

Jun 11, 2026

Sweet Deceit

How radio sound effects escaped containment into “the real world”

Julia Barton

May 28, 2026

A Difficult Groove

Andy Lanset on the long struggle to gather and edit "field tape"

Julia Barton, +1

May 21, 2026

Empire of Electrons

As CBS cuts its last ties to radio and good comedy, let's revisit psychodramas of yore

Julia Barton

Apr 30, 2026

When Actors Did the News

Time Magazine and their ad agencies re-enacted events and people, fake accents and all. But their news show wasn't a parody.

Julia Barton, +1

Apr 16, 2026

What Does Talent Cost?

Awkward conversations about money could be made easier with time travel

Julia Barton

Apr 3, 2026

Hothouse

Podcasts vs Newsletters

Julia Barton