Re-Imagined Radio Recreates London during the Blitz

At 1 p.m. April 17, Re-Imagined Radio will explore Edward R. Murrow’s shortwave radio reports from London during the 57 nights of bombing in World War II that is called the Blitz. The April episode, titled “Proximity Effect: Edward R. Murrow’s Radio Storytelling,” with Murrow’s at-the-scene vivid verbal descriptions and keen attention to sound, created a realistic experience for listeners as well as a new form of radio storytelling, “the proximity effect.”

Murrow wanted to help Americans understand the horror felt by Londoners during the dark days of the Blitz, as the German air force relentlessly pummeled nonmilitary targets. His embrace of the sounds of the bombings made his work stand out. The episode will sample several examples of Murrow’s proximity radio storytelling.

The episode will air on KXRW-FM (99.9), Vancouver, and KXRY-FM (91.1 and 107.1), Portland. Subsequent broadcasts and streams will be provided by local, regional and international broadcast partners. Episodes can be streamed on demand from the Re-Imagined Radio website, reimaginedradio.net.