Roosevelt understood that his administration's success depended upon a favorable dialogue with the electorate — possible only through methods of mass communication — and that the true power of the presidency was the ability to take the initiative. The use of radio for direct appeals was perhaps the most important of FDR's innovations in political communication.[1]:153 Roosevelt's opponents had control of most newspapers in the 1930s and press reports were under their control and involved their editorial commentary. Historian Betty Houchin Winfield says, "He and his advisers worried that newspapers' biases would affect the news columns and rightly so."[2] Historian Douglas B. Craig says that he "offered voters a chance to receive information unadulterated by newspaper proprietors' bias" through the new medium of radio.
An interesting comparison - Since MOST of FDR’s “country stories” were complete lies about never-seen “old folks” who “advised” him on national policy and international relations!
I'm hoping that he continues them. It would be a good way to bypass the press altogether -- they can rebroadcast the Youtube video if they want to remain relevant.
Another innovation would be a "press conference" without the "press". Trump did an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit last summer, while he was in flight to Toledo:
I’m Donald J. Trump and I'm Your Next President of the United States.
If he could do a live teleconference and take questions from ordinary people without losing control to disruptions, I think it would be very popular -- except in the leftist media.