Why did some listeners mistake Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds broadcast for real news?

Listeners mistook Orson Welles’s 1938 radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds for real news primarily because the broadcast was designed to mimic the format of a breaking news report. By interrupting a music program with urgent bulletins about a Martian invasion, Welles and his team effectively utilized radio news tropes to create a sense of realism.12

The confusion was exacerbated for listeners who tuned in late and missed the program's introductory disclaimer. Additionally, because the Sudetenland crisis had occurred just the month prior, some listeners were already primed to expect reports of an actual military invasion.12

While the event is legendary for causing widespread panic, historical records suggest the reaction was significantly exaggerated by newspapers, which were eager to discredit the emerging medium of radio. In reality, only a small fraction of the audience was fooled by the performance.12