Category Archives: International Broadcasting

Radio Taiwan International and Radio Prague Recent Highlights

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares two stories from the world of international broadcasting:

First, Radio Taiwan International highlights a recent long-distance shortwave exchange between students in Taiwan and Norway. The project combines broadcasting, media literacy, cultural exchange, and disaster-resilient communications, and even prompted reception reports from listeners across northern Europe. Click here to read the full article: https://www.rti.org.tw/en/news?uid=3&pid=188096

Second, Radio Prague International is marking 90 years of international broadcasting this year. To commemorate the anniversary, RPI has released a new series of QSL cards. Click here to read the full article: https://english.radio.cz/90-years-air-radio-prague-international-marks-anniversary-qsl-cards-8875728

BBC Sunday Feature: Leo Sarkisian, The Music Man for Africa

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Many thanks to SWLing Post friend and contributor David Goren, who produced this wonderful BBC Sunday Feature documentary, The Music Man for Africa.

The program explores the remarkable life of Leo Sarkisian, the legendary Voice of America broadcaster who spent decades traveling across Africa (and beyond) with a massive tape recorder, documenting traditional music and sharing it with the world through Music Time in Africa.

You can listen via the BBC here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002przx

If the BBC is geofenced in your part of the world, you can also listen via SoundCloud here (note that it may require a SoundCloud free account to listen):

VOA Funds Included in Spending Bill

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View of the Capitol Building from the roof of the Voice of America on 330 Independence Ave., S.W.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this Radio World report on a proposed U.S. congressional spending bill that would include continued funding for the Voice of America and its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The bipartisan proposal would allocate roughly $653 million to support VOA’s international broadcasting mission and related services, signaling congressional backing for global news and information distribution even as the bill still must clear final approval: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/proposed-congress-spending-bill-includes-voa-funding

RFA to resume broadcasts to North Korea

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who highlights a recent Reuters report on Radio Free Asia’s plans to resume Korean-language broadcasts aimed at reaching listeners in North Korea after a period of reduced operations.

Radio Free Asia intends to restart weekly radio programming later this month alongside its revived digital content–a move that underscores the ongoing effort to provide uncensored news to audiences where such access is otherwise severely limited.

Click here to read the full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/radio-free-asia-resume-korean-broadcasts-reach-north-2026-01-16/

RTI’s Spanish & Japanese programs ranking among shortwave broadcasters

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares this article from Radio Taiwan International highlighting how RTI’s Spanish and Japanese shortwave programs have placed in global listener polls, with the Spanish service especially popular across dozens of countries and the Japanese service recognized at Japan’s largest amateur radio event. Read the full article here: https://www.rti.org.tw/en/news?uid=3&pid=186281

How Radio Farda Continues to Report from Prague

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares an article from Radio Prague outlining how Radio Farda continues to report on protests in Iran despite aggressive censorship, internet blackouts, and significant risks to journalists and sources on the ground. Operating from Prague as part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Farda works creatively and persistently to gather and verify information under extremely challenging conditions, providing independent Persian-language reporting that remains a crucial lifeline for audiences inside Iran—and an important window for listeners and readers around the world.

Click here to read the full article.

Radio Farda Returns to Shortwave to Bypass Iran’s Digital Blackout

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for the tip:

Working with commercial broadcasters, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Persian service Radio Farda has resumed shortwave broadcasts aimed at Iran, providing an alternative to state-controlled media amid an ongoing internet blackout imposed by the Iranian government. The return to shortwave is intended to help listeners inside the country continue receiving independent news and vital information at a time when digital access is restricted. Read more here: https://about.rferl.org/article/radio-farda-returns-to-shortwave-bypassing-irans-digital-blackout/