Ukrainian Diaspora Radio Broadcasting in North America in 1939 Within the System of Socio-Communicative Tools for Countering Total Propaganda

T. Hyrina

Abstract


The purpose. The study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the state of Ukrainian-language radio broadcasting in the USA and Canada in 1939, clarify the role of the airwaves in consolidating the diaspora at the onset of World War II, and investigate the socio-communicative mechanisms of countering propaganda.

The research methodology is based on monitoring and content analysis of the «Svoboda» newspaper. Methods of systematization, comparative analysis, and source-based inquiry were applied to verify the parameters of radio networks. Media event reconstruction, discourse analysis, and classification allowed for the restoration of the broadcasting structure and the differentiation of its genres.

The results. It is proven that in 1939, Ukrainian-language radio broadcasting transformed from a leisure medium into a strategic instrument for national self-preservation. It was established that an extensive network of local stations (W.A.R.D., W.B.N.X., K.Q.V., etc.) formed a unique socio-communicative space where mass events (such as «Radio Balls» and «Radio Days») were integrated with real-time reporting on events in occupied Ukraine. The findings indicate that with the outbreak of World War II, radio became a primary weapon in the «war of nerves», functioning as a spiritual bridge and a mobilization resource for the community.

Novelty. For the first time, based on a systematic analysis of materials from the «Svoboda» newspaper of 1939, a holistic picture of the Ukrainian radio landscape during a period of global crisis has been reconstructed. The study identifies the specifics of adapting media formats (radio theater, bilingual lectures) to the conditions of wartime censorship and propagandistic pressure.

Practical significance. The research findings can be utilized in developing lecture courses on the history of Ukrainian journalism, media management, and specialized courses on the role of ethnic media during international conflicts. The experience of the diaspora’s informational self-organization in 1939 remains relevant for contemporary practices of cultural diplomacy and countering media manipulation.

Key words: Ukrainian emigrant radio, socio-communicative technologies, Ukrainian diaspora in the USA, Ukrainian-language radio broadcasting, «Svoboda» newspaper.


References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.32840/cpu2219-8741/2026.2(66).5

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