Dear Readers,
Over the 17 years I’ve been running the SWLing Post, I’ve done my best to make this space a safe haven from divisive politics. This site has always aimed to bring people together through a shared love of shortwave listening, international broadcasting, and radio communications — no matter where they live or how they vote.
That said, the very nature of international broadcasting means that political topics will occasionally surface. When governments decide to decommission transmitters, reduce funding for public broadcasters, or overhaul agencies involved in international communication, the decisions are often political in nature — frequently tied to elected officials or broader geopolitical shifts. As such, they become newsworthy for our community, and I believe we have a responsibility to acknowledge and explore them.
In the past, we’ve covered major changes in international broadcasting — from the shutdown of Canada’s RCI Sackville site, to Australia’s complete withdrawal from shortwave, to Greece’s repeated (and eventually permanent) closure of their shortwave services. We’ve also reported on the disappearance and sometimes return of broadcasts in various regions around the world. In nearly every case, I’ve been heartened by the civil and insightful conversations these stories sparked here on the SWLing Post.
This year, however, we’ve seen a notable increase in news items that carry a heavier political weight. For instance, the recent “Bloody Saturday” shakeup in U.S. international broadcasting under the DOGE initiative caught many off guard — even critics of the agencies in question were surprised by the suddenness and execution of the changes. Since many of our readers live in the U.S. or closely follow American policy, the stakes feel especially high right now.
As a result, we’ve had to moderate more comments than usual, and in some cases, we’ve chosen to disable comments entirely on certain posts. This is never a decision we take lightly — but we do so when we feel that an external news item already has its own space for public discussion and when the likelihood of unproductive venting here outweighs constructive dialogue.
We’re not going to shy away from reporting on these important developments. In fact, to ignore them would be to make a political decision in itself.
Instead, our goal is to present information as clearly and objectively as we can, linking to sources that provide both context and multiple perspectives. While it may be impossible to find purely objective news sources, we do our best to choose reporting that is fair and fact-based.
With that in mind, I kindly ask that when you comment on these types of posts, you do so with respect for others — even (and especially) when you disagree.
Share your viewpoint, provide evidence where you can, and aim to add to the conversation.
Refrain from name-calling, personal attacks, or using the comment space as a venue to vent political frustrations. We have five trusted moderators who review comments daily, and they may choose to remove inappropriate remarks or close comments altogether if things get off track.
Thank you for helping us keep the SWLing Post a welcoming space for everyone — a place where thoughtful discussion, curiosity, and mutual respect still prevail. Let’s continue promoting practical actions and shared solutions that strengthen the global community of international radio listeners and broadcasters alike.
With appreciation,
Thomas
SWLing Post Editor
I applaud your dedication to encouraging SWL/hobby/general exchanges of ideas and information, and avoiding or even eliminating political comments and preventing arguments of political nature.
While many events,. topics, and issues will have some political impact or content, I hope you continue to exercise your best judgement and help us focus on the hobby.
Quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson : I may disagree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it. Need to return to respect and courtesy rather than my way or the highway.
I started SWLing probably at 11 in 1955. I got my amateur license in 1957. That lapsed, but I ALWAYS had an SW radio. Shortwave broadcasts expanded my horizons and made me an internationalist. Politics was extremely polarized in the late 50’s and later, and I gained a lot of information from BBC, RCI, Radio-Nederland, Radio Sweden, DW, etc, but also from RHC and all the ‘independent’ broadcasters like HCJB.
It molded my life and my politics. It made me a Critical Thinker. And two ham broadcasters, Jean Shepard, and Art Bell opened my mind to the hobby again. So I was relicensed in 2000. Radio ops HEAR the world.
Long-time reader, first-time poster. It’s not just radio, it’s everything now. My wife departed a *birding* listserv just yesterday because politics intruded.
Eloquent statement of purpose you made, Thomas. Something for all of us to aspire to, and not just on this forum.
Very well said and, hopefully, the “…thoughtful discussion, curiosity, and mutual respect…” will expand to all media everywhere.
Thanks for this and your SWLing Post.
Thanks, Thomas, you have a Masters in diplomacy! One of the problems with people discussing controversial subjects, revolves around a comment I made to my lecturer in first year Sociology ( I was a young smart Alec!) I stated that I had figured out the hardest thing for people to do, and that is to accept that sometimes information contrary to their personal beliefs can be factual. Instead we argue.
Totally agree and support you! Thanks for keeping the love of radio alive! Dave B KC1LPS
Greetings and Good Wishes to All —
Your commentary is a wonderful piece of thoughtful writing.
It clearly reflects the great respect you hold for the values and standards of free speech in a democratic society.
For myself politics, religion, sex, life, love and peace are the substance of humanity and I never quite understood what is to be gained by avoiding these topics. Keep thinking free!
You have created something very special with your publication — especially for its community of readers and writers who enjoy and appreciate it as a fun, rich and informative resource. You make our world of radio a better place even in difficult times. I wish you all the best as you continue your excellent work!
Thank you for keeping the SWLing Post a civilized place.
Ron
I commend your efforts to provide information on SWL because in a time when any government can control the local media, defund and attack alternative voices, and also affect what people can see on social media platforms, shortwave listening becomes even more important to be able to hear news reporting on the same events, from other points of view.
How often did the Voice of America shortwave broadcasts reach into Nazi occupied territory, through their jamming, to provide not just entertainment, but alternative points of view outside of the approved state narrative. We do not know what the future holds, but now is the time for more, better, and stronger shortwave broadcasts from around the world.
Excellent post, Thomas. Personally, I come here (and enjoy the radio hobby) exactly to get away from the daily grind, including politics! I agree with another poster, in the early days of my radio experience, politics and religion were very much discouraged – not because they are not important, but because as a hobby we try to engender a spirit of camaraderie. I firmly believe radio, and in particular, amateur radio, did much to lessen the angst during the cold war between Russia and the United States. Such an environment is needed more now than ever to deal with the multitude of “Cold Wars” present today! Cheers!
Thomas
Very well said! As far as I’m concerned, this is exactly the right stance to take.
I’m incensed by the cessation of BBC World Service, and it’s frustrating that the USA and Canada have also largely shut down their External Broadcasting. I understand the reduction in the use of broadcast radio with the rise of the Internet, but I’m very annoyed that when I’m offline, in some obscure part of the world, I can no longer hear the news from home and other programmes. There’s little point in taking a shortwave portable on holiday with me anymore.
I’ve been a radio fan (and broadcaster) for as long as I can remember, and am deeply saddened by the end of shortwave radio broadcasting. Similarly, here in the UK, FM services are rapidly being supplanted by the dreadful, unreliable DAB. AM broadcasting largely ceased a few years ago, and all that remains today of national AM are a poor BBC excuse for a news and current affairs station, and a sports station. The rest of the band has a few religious and ethnic stations, each playing to their own small communities. There is just one AM music station – Radio Caroline – but they’re hampered by restricted power and a poor choice of frequency.
FM in the UK is also being run down, with the amalgamation of previously local radio stations into regional ones, and endless repititions of a few dreadful national commercial stations. The once great BBC has had some bizarre political changes, and is no longer listenable.
It seems that radio-borne broadcasting is in terminal decline. It’s all very sad.
I have been a DX’er since 1962 and a Ham since 1979.
Back in 1962, “Us and Them” was Macro. The Free World and the Communist Bloc, the Yankees and the rest of the American League, the Horns and the Aggies, Alabama and Auburn.
Now it’s “Us Versus Them”, Micro and personal. White vs. Non-White, Pro-choice vs. Pro-life, Your Christian vs My-Christian or Non-Christian, Right vs Left (Poor Moderates). No more Learned-Opponent or Lounge diplomacy (smoke filled room over a cocktail).
The new Hams are a lot different than the ones when I got my license.
And the Ham World is in arms because DXing has become a Digital macro 14 character transmission.
I wonder why???? We all need an attitude change that unites us. Doesn’t seem to exist.
I have moved to 14 Character Digital DXing. It hurts me not to share my love of this Hobby with a microphone.
Good words, Thomas. Thank you for being diligent to keep this forum a friendly space for healthy comment and discussion.
Good advice!
Remember, we can avoid politics for a while, but inevitably politics comes to us
Thank you, Thomas.
BTW, even though this blog covers the full range of SWL, I have noticed, as someone returning to the hobby after a 45+ year hiatus, that the discussion of things political in has become a significant element in the content of both the SW broadcasts and especially within the content of many conversations among amateur radio operators. In the 1960-70 when I was first active in this hobby, there was a rule (not sure if it was written or unwritten) that talk about politics and religion were not permitted. I almost think the ARRL had that in their code of ethics.
What is sad is the amount of misinformation that gets spread in this manner. Even sadder is the speed at which it gets picked up and repeated. Just before reading this entry, I was listening to a conversation on our local GMRS network and some politically-based misinformation was shared. Very sad.
Thanks for all you (and the moderators) do
Cheers
Fred Waterer