99% Invisible Fishing In The Night
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May 13, 2025 
Katie Thornton, a contributor to WNYC's On the Media and a seasoned radio historian, dives into the fascinating world of shortwave radio. She discusses how this medium connected listeners globally, especially at night, sparking nostalgia and wonder. Thornton reveals its powerful role during WWII as both a morale booster and a propaganda weapon. She also touches on the emergence of fringe media post-Cold War and its influence on modern American ideology. Shortwave radio's unique magic captivates, blending science with culture across decades.
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Discovering global shortwave radio
- David Gorin introduced the host to the wide world of shortwave radio from his Brooklyn home.
- Tuning into international broadcasts made the distant world feel immediately reachable and magnetic.
Nighttime AM signals travel far
- At night, AM radio signals bounce off the ionosphere, enabling distant reception.
- This phenomenon led to a fad called 'fishing in the night' to tune distant stations after dark.
Shortwave's global reach revealed
- Amateur radio operators proved that shortwave frequencies unexpectedly reach around the globe.
- This discovery transformed broadcasting, allowing round-the-clock international transmission.