Charles Kellogg Field (1873–1948) was an American journalist, poet, and radio broadcaster who made significant contributions to early twentieth-century media. Born in Montpelier, Vermont, Field was a member of the pioneer graduating class of Stanford University in 1895. He went on to establish a career in print journalism, most notably serving as the editor of Sunset magazine from approximately 1914 to 1920. Field and his colleagues purchased the publication from the Southern Pacific Railroad, transitioning it into an independent venture.
During his tenure at Sunset, Field became embroiled in a major national security controversy. In 1914, he was indicted under the Defense Secrets Act of 1911. The charges stemmed from the magazine's publication of photographs detailing the construction and fortifications of the Panama Canal, accompanied by an article by Lieutenant Riley Scott that argued the canal was highly vulnerable to aerial attacks.
In his later career, Field transitioned from print to the emerging medium of radio. From 1927 to 1940, he hosted a popular program on NBC under the pseudonym "Cheerio." He embraced this persona fully, using it to write and publish his 1936 book, The Story of Cheerio, by Himself. Field passed away in 1948, leaving behind a legacy that spanned the evolution of American media from print journalism to national radio broadcasting.
