Milton J. Rosenberg facts for kids

Milton J. "Milt" Rosenberg (born April 15, 1925 – died January 9, 2018) was an important social psychologist. He taught psychology at the University of Chicago. Milt Rosenberg was also famous for hosting a long-running radio show in Chicago, Illinois.

In 2008, President George W. Bush gave Rosenberg the National Humanities Medal. This award honored him "for bringing the world of ideas to millions of listeners." In 1988, a group called the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry gave him an award for responsible journalism.

Early Life and Education

Milton Rosenberg was born in New York City. He studied at several universities. He earned his first degree from Brooklyn College in 1946. Later, he received a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1948. He completed his PhD at the University of Michigan in 1953. Rosenberg started his teaching career at the University of Michigan. He worked there as an instructor from 1952 to 1954.

Teaching Career and Psychology

Rosenberg became a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago. He was in charge of the doctoral program for social and organizational psychology. Before joining the University of Chicago in the mid-1960s, he taught at other well-known universities. These included Yale University (1954–61), Ohio State University (1961–63), and Dartmouth College (1963–65).

He also worked briefly at the Naval War College. He gave lectures at many universities in the United States and other countries. Rosenberg also served on the Board of Trustees for Shimer College in Chicago.

Books and Research

Milton Rosenberg wrote many articles for professional journals. He also wrote for political magazines. He wrote, co-wrote, or edited several books. Some of his books include Attitude Organization and Change and Theories of Cognitive Consistency.

One of his main areas of study was cognitive dissonance. This is a feeling of discomfort when your beliefs or actions don't match. He also studied how people's attitudes change. He worked closely with other researchers, like Robert P. Abelson, on these topics.

Radio Show: Extension 720

From 1973 until 2012, Milt Rosenberg hosted "Extension 720" on WGN Radio. This was a two-hour discussion show. One hour of the show was set aside for listeners to call in. The program aired Sunday through Thursday nights.

The show covered many different topics. These included politics, money, entertainment, religion, and foreign policy. Milt Rosenberg often said the show discussed "just about everything except pop psychology and poodle-trimming."

He invited many interesting guests to his show. These guests included journalists, professors, and business leaders. Some famous people who appeared on "Extension 720" were Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter, and Colin Powell. Other notable guests included Charlton Heston, Bill Murray, and Carl Sagan.

On December 17, 2012, WGN announced that Rosenberg would retire from his daily show. His last daily show was on December 20, 2012. The station said he would still contribute to the station. However, it seems he did not continue working with WGN after his retirement.

Later Radio and Podcasts

In May 2013, Rosenberg started his own podcast. It was called The Milt Rosenberg Show. On his podcast website, he offered new interviews for free. He also sold recordings of his older interviews.

In April 2015, Rosenberg returned to radio. He hosted a show on WCGO/1590 from Evanston, Illinois. His show aired on weekday evenings. However, in November 2015, WCGO canceled his program.

Death

Milton Rosenberg passed away in Chicago on January 9, 2018. He was 92 years old. He died from problems related to pneumonia. His wife, Marjorie Rosenberg, who was an author, died in 2021.