“Radio-grams received by the local radio-station”: the formation of radio broadcasting in the Vyatka Governorate (1918–1923)

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Vadim A. Timshin

PhD in Philosophy, Associate Professor at the Department of Journalism and Integrated Communications, Vyatka State University, Kirov, Russia; ORCID 0000-0001-6472-6976

e-mail: va_timshin@vyatsu.ru

Section: History of Journalism

In this work, the author addresses a little-studied period of the formation and development of radio broadcasting in the Vyatka Governorate between 1918 and 1923. Based on archival documents, the history of the emergence of the first radiotelegraph stations (receiving and receiving-transmitting) in the region and their operation is examined, clarifying dates, events, and the names of people who actively participated in this process. The author highlights the early forms of radio journalism, such as radiograms and radio bulletins, which were received by the Vyatka radio station. The scheme and features of the distribution of the poster bulletin developed in the governorate are described, as well as the role of the Vyatka Branch of ROSTA (GubROSTA) and its district branches. Some materials from the wall newspapers (poster bulletins) of the Malmyzhsky District Branch of ROSTA are introduced into scientific circulation. The first successes in mastering radiotelephone communication are noted, as well as the first experiments of collective listening to radio broadcasts from Moscow using a loudspeaker. It is concluded that the work of radiotelegraph stations in the Vyatka Governorate influenced the formation of communication infrastructure and the development of radio broadcasting in the region, which contributed to the creation of the all-Russian (all-Union) radio broadcasting network as a whole.

Keywords: Vyatka Radiotelegraph Station, radiogram, radio bulletin, poster bulletin, Vyatka Branch of ROSTA (GubROSTA)
DOI: 10.55959/msu.vestnik.journ.4.2026.129152

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To cite this article: Timshin V. A. (2026) «Radio-grammy, prinyatyya mestnoy radio-stantsiey»: stanovlenie radioveshchaniya v Vyatskoy gubernii (1918–1923) [“Radio-grams received by the local radio-station”: the formation of radio broadcasting in the Vyatka Governorate (1918–1923)]. Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 10. Zhurnalistika 4: 129–152. DOI: 10.55959/msu.vestnik.journ.4.2026.129152