Monitor Radio

Collection Summary

The Monitor Radio collection encompasses over twenty years of broadcasts from The Christian Science Monitor, an editorially independent journalistic enterprise of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. Comprising nearly 7,000 programs from 1977 to 1997, the collection consists predominantly of episodes of Monitor Radio (1984–1997), a news, arts, and culture magazine distributed by public media. In addition to early-morning, daily, and weekend editions of this series, the collection also includes broadcasts from Monitor News Service (1977–1983), a precursor to Monitor Radio, and Monitor Radio Conversations (1985), featuring interviews with thought leaders, political pundits, and public figures.

In keeping with The Christian Science Monitor’s editorial principles, Monitor Radio was noteworthy for its objectivity and eschewal of sensationalism. International in focus, Monitor Radio documented many of the most pivotal events of the second half of the Cold War. These include the Soviet-Afghan War, the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the 1991 Soviet Coup.

Several episodes reflect on recent history. For example, in 1989, Monitor Radio aired a report on the partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania, a decade earlier. Similarly, on the ten-year anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine, Monitor Radio featured a story on the incident and its lasting effects on survivors and the environment. On the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Israel, Monitor Radio offered an objective account of the history of the country and present-day challenges, and on December 26, 1991, the program looked back on the Soviet Union’s final year on the day it was formally dissolved.

Monitor Radio not only reported on major news stories; it also explored their complexities. For instance, when Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990, Monitor Radio reported on his first public comments following his 27-year imprisonment. It then delved deeper into the topic of the anti-apartheid movement, featuring a story on the impact of US-imposed economic sanctions on South Africa and a profile of Mandela titled “Nelson Mandela: The Man Behind the Myth.”

In addition to reporting on international issues, Monitor Radio also covered US news and politics, such as efforts to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the O.J. Simpson trial. The series documented the United States’ entry into the Gulf War, as well as major scientific breakthroughs, including the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope and the cloning of Dolly the sheep.

Monitor Radio often featured interviews with political leaders, among them South African activist Bishop Desmond Tutu. Additionally, Monitor Radio Conversations shared in-depth discussions with an array of public figures, such as writer Neil Postman, astronomer Carl Sagan, and filmmakers Tim Burton and Ken Burns. Other noteworthy guests on Monitor Radio Conversations include Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to exceed the speed of sound in flight, and celebrity chef Julia Child.