IASA 2018 Annual Conference

In this piece, I discuss the need for a sonic turn in public radio studies to expand our modes of inquiry and bring the field into the 21st century. First, I provide a brief overview of the theoretical benefits of a sonic approach to public radio scholarship. Next, I outline research on radio that exemplifies such an approach. Once the case for sonic thinking is established, I address the practical consideration of acoustic archive accessibility. I argue that scholars studying public radio are in a unique position to work with archivists to make this archive accessible and thereby facilitate a sonic turn through collaboration.