Category Archives: International Broadcasting

Pope Leo XIV Visits Vatican Radio’s Shortwave Center at Santa Maria di Galeria

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Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who shared the following news via Vatican News on Facebook. Below you’ll find an English translation and the original in Italian (note that all photos are courtesy of Vatican News):

This morning, June 19, #PopeLeoXIV visited Santa Maria di Galeria, in the extraterritorial area where the shortwave Radio Center of #VaticanRadio, Dicastery for Communication, is located. He met with the staff, with whom he stayed and conversed ?, visited the transmitter hall designed by architect Pier Luigi Nervi, and sat in the control room for the shortwave broadcasts.

The Pope inquired about the functioning of the antennas, the broadcasts, and the digital disaster recovery system, and celebrated with the staff ? his 43rd anniversary of priesthood, which falls today.

The Pontiff emphasized how, during his missionary work in Latin America and Africa, it was invaluable to be able to receive the shortwave broadcasts of Vatican Radio, which reach places where few stations are able to, and he reaffirmed the missionary value of communication.

The Radio Center was inaugurated by Pope Pius XII in 1957.

The last visit by a Pope to the Radio Center and the area of Santa Maria di Galeria was in 1991, when John Paul II went there.

[Original version in Italian]

Questa mattina, 19 giugno, #PapaLeoneXIV è andato in visita a Santa Maria di Galeria, nella zona extraterritoriale dove sorge il Centro Radio in onda corta della #RadioVaticana, Dicastero per la Comunicazione. Ha incontrato il personale, con cui si è trattenuto in conversazione, ha visitato la sala trasmettitori progettata dall’architetto Pier Luigi Nervi e si è seduto nella sala di controllo per le trasmissioni in onda corta.

Il Papa si è informato sul funzionamento delle antenne, delle trasmissioni e del sistema di digital disaster recovery, e con il personale ha celebrato con un piccolo rinfresco il suo 43° anniversario di sacerdozio, che cade oggi.

Il Pontefice ha sottolineato come durante il suo lavoro missionario in America Latina e Africa sia stato prezioso poter ricevere le trasmissioni in onde corte della Radio Vaticana, che raggiungono luoghi dove poche emittenti riescono ad arrivare, e ha riaffermato il valore missionario della comunicazione.

Il Centro Radio è stato inaugurato da Papa Pio XII nel 1957.

L’ultima visita di un Papa al Centro Radio e alla zona di Santa Maria di Galeria risale al 1991, anno in cui vi si recò Giovanni Paolo II.

Iran State TV Bombed as USAGM Scrambles to Recall VOA Staff

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Ed, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

Some SWLing Post readers may be interested in seeing video of a television studio of Iranian State broadcaster Iran News Network being bombed during a live broadcast.

Click here to read the story via the AP.

Many SWLing Post readers know that radio and TV broadcast facilities are typically attacked in wartime by opposing military forces to ‘control the airwaves’ and influence public opinion. It will be interesting to see if/when the Israeli military starts clandestine broadcasts into Iran.

Reportedly U.S. Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM) is seeking to re-hire many workers it recently fired in a mass USAGM purge, now that the U.S. needs to broadcast into Middle East conflict zones and influence public opinion using Alhurra TV, Radio Sawa, and VOA.

-Ed

KTWR Guam: Dan suggests you log a piece of radio history…today!

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes:

Hi Thomas

Regarding your recent post on June 5: https://swling.com/blog/2025/06/twr-guam-to-end-broadcasting/

KTWR, Trans World Radio has recently announced they will be ending their shortwave broadcasts from Agana, Guam by October 31, 2025. However, unlike some stations that have vanished somewhat abruptly, there are still a few months remaining to log this station before they are gone from the airwaves forever. As well, with the help of various SDR’s located around the globe, this task should not be too difficult. The attached recording was made this past weekend on June 8, 2025, through the use of a Kiwi SDR located in northern Thailand on a frequency of 11965 kHz. At first, there is just background noise, but then, you will hear their transmitter come onto the air and power up for a few seconds. Their interval signal is played a number of times followed by sign on in English at 1100 hours UTC.

73

Dan Greenall, Ontario, Canada

AP: Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

(Source: The Associated Press)

Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration appointee overseeing the Voice of America has outlined job cuts that would reduce employment at the state-run news organization from over 1,000 people to 81.

The Voice of America, which has delivered news to countries all over the world for the better part of a century, has been largely silent for two months following an executive order by President Donald Trump. He believes Voice of America, and similar organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, have reported with a liberal bias.

Most of VOA’s employees have been on administrative leave since mid-March amid reports that layoff notices were forthcoming.

Kari Lake, who has been overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media for Trump, outlined planned employment changes in a letter Tuesday to U.S. Sen. James Risch that was obtained by The Associated Press. Lake said Trump had directed the agency “to reduce the performance of its statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.” [Continue reading…]

ABC Radio National: “The silencing of Voice of America”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mangosman, who shares this Rear Vision audio documentary from ABC Radio National. It explores the rise, influence, and eventual dismantling of the Voice of America, offering context on how international broadcasting shaped geopolitics during—and after—the Cold War:

Click here to check it out at ABC Radio National.

Don Moore’s Photo Album: Guatemala (Part Seven) – Radio Maya de Barillas

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Image: Radio Maya via Facebook

Don Moore’s Photo Album:
Guatemala (Part Seven) – Radio Maya de Barillas

by Don Moore

More of Don’s traveling DX stories can be found in his book Tales of a Vagabond DXer [SWLing Post affiliate link]. If you’ve already read his book and enjoyed it, do Don a favor and leave a review on Amazon.

Given the subject of this final part you might assume that I eventually did make it to Barillas and get to visit Radio Maya. I wish it were so, but no. When writing part six of this series I tried to find a few interesting links about Radio Maya to include. I came across a 38-minute video about the history of the station issued on its 50th anniversary in 2012. The video is a series of still photos (most very old) narrated in Kanjobal.

Actually I’m assuming that it’s Kanjobal as that is the Mayan language spoken in Barillas. I don’t speak Kanjobal, but the Mayan languages use Spanish for numbers, dates, and modern ideas such as technical terms. Between the Spanish words and the context provided by the photographs, I was able to somewhat understand the video. Instead of expecting you to watch the 38-minute video, I’ve copied the most interesting pictures below. (I don’t think you want to see pictures of all the people involved over the years.)

Beginnings

There had been an Evangelical mission in Barillas since the mid-1950s. The name of whoever decided to put a radio station in Barillas is lost to history. But, like Father John Rompa of the Catholic station La Voz de Nahualá, they realized that radio was the best way to reach the Mayan people scattered across remote mountain towns and villages. Also lost to history is why they picked a place as remote as Barillas. Not only was the town at the end of the road, but in the early 1960s the last stretch of road wasn’t even drivable. Hauling in equipment for the new broadcaster was a challenge.

Here a man carries part of the transmitter on his back:

The transmitter eventually arrived in Barillas on an oxcart:

In these next two pictures about two dozen men haul the generator over a rough stretch of road:

The original building in 1962:

The next step was putting up the antenna. Here villagers prepare to erect a wooden pole as a center support for the antenna wires:

One of two shorter poles to hold up the lower ends of the wire:

When the pole was in place a very brave (or foolhardy?) man climbed to the top to attach the wires:

The finished tower. The antenna wires, attached at the top, aren’t visible. The lower wires are for support:

From its beginnings until the late 1970s, Radio Maya de Barillas only broadcast on 2360 kHz with this 250-watt transmitter. Later a one-kilowatt transmitter was added for 3325 kHz.

Installing the generator:

The Radio Maya studio in the 1960s:

Getting Bigger

In 1969 a plot of land was purchased on the edge of town and over the next three years a new building was constructed with help from American missionaries. Continue reading →