The American population became increasingly concentrated in cities in the early twentieth century. Because cities had more public schools than rural areas did, the population's shift to the cities meant that more children had access to education. The literacy (ability to read and write) rate increased accordingly and spawned a thirst for knowledge. To satisfy their need for information, the American public looked to newspapers. Newspaper circulation increased in large cities and small communities. By the 1920s, newspapers could take advantage of improved printing techniques, expanded communication systems, more-efficient news gathering, and increased advertising revenues. Newspaper organizations became big corporate businesses and enjoyed huge profits.

By the early 1920s radio stations started making regularly scheduled broadcasts; two early leaders were KDKA of Pittsburgh and WWJ of Detroit. Radio programming grew steadily in the 1920s. Hollywood movies, which had previously been only novelties...