Final answer:
Newspapers discredited radio post-War of the Worlds broadcast fearing the loss of their informational control due to radio's real-time news delivery, which became pivotal during World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the time after the broadcast of The War of the Worlds radio play, newspapers sought to discredit radio as a source of news because the immediacy of radio news, exemplified by the panic caused by the Mercury Theater's dramatization of Martian invasion, threatened the newspapers' control over information dissemination. Newspapers, which were once the primary source of news, could not compete with the real-time capabilities of radio broadcasts, especially concerning urgent updates during events like World War II. The move towards more immediate news delivery by radio was further solidified by reporters like Edward R. Murrow, who provided live coverage and commentary directly from Europe during wartime, thereby enhancing the power and influence of radio over print media.