{"id":63761,"date":"2025-08-25T06:14:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T10:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=63761"},"modified":"2025-08-25T14:07:57","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T18:07:57","slug":"on-the-media-explores-the-power-of-shortwave-radio-and-press-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/on-the-media-explores-the-power-of-shortwave-radio-and-press-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Media explores the power of shortwave radio and press freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/JRC-515-Dial.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24615\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/JRC-515-Dial.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/JRC-515-Dial.jpg 800w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/JRC-515-Dial-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/JRC-515-Dial-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/JRC-515-Dial-624x371.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>Many thanks to <em>SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Amy Barry for sharing this tip.<\/p>\n<p>WNYC\u2019s On the Media recently aired an episode titled The Power of Shortwave Radio\u2014and What Gets Lost with Voice of America? Reporter Katie Thornton explores shortwave\u2019s historic role in connecting the world, its continuing importance where the internet cannot reach, and the implications of VOA\u2019s decline.<\/p>\n<p>In the second half of the program, host Micah Loewinger sits down with Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty to discuss the network\u2019s role in countries lacking a free press and her own nine-month detention in Russia. Bay Fang, president of Radio Free Asia, also weighs in on why the shutdown of RFA will further diminish press freedom in Asia.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wnyc.org\/widgets\/ondemand_player\/wnycstudios\/#file=\/audio\/json\/1513887\/&amp;share=1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"130\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnycstudios.org\/podcasts\/otm\/articles\/the-power-of-shortwave-radio-and-what-gets-lost-with-voice-of-america\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to listen on WNYC\u2019s site.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Amy Barry for sharing this tip. WNYC\u2019s On the Media recently aired an episode titled The Power of Shortwave Radio\u2014and What Gets Lost with Voice of America? Reporter Katie Thornton explores shortwave\u2019s historic role in connecting the world, its continuing importance where the internet cannot reach, and the implications [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43],"tags":[10887,10811,10888,10810,1528,1093,1094,4082,4655],"class_list":["post-63761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bay-fang","tag-katie-thornton","tag-micah-loewinger","tag-on-the-media","tag-radio-liberty","tag-rfa","tag-rfe","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-why-shortwave"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gAp","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":62869,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/katie-thorntons-new-series-investigates-the-influence-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":63761,"position":0},"title":"Katie Thornton\u2019s New Series Investigates the Influence of Shortwave Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"May 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Award-winning journalist Katie Thornton has launched a new season of the Peabody-winning podcast, The Divided Dial, produced by On the Media and WNYC Studios. In this season, Katie focuses on shortwave radio\u2014a medium that is near and dear to our hearts. In Episode 1, \u201cFishing In The Night\u201d, Thornton explores\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Broadcasting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/DividedDialSeason2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/DividedDialSeason2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/DividedDialSeason2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/DividedDialSeason2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63820,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/u-s-global-media-agency-to-lay-off-hundreds-at-voa-rfa-and-rfe-rl\/","url_meta":{"origin":63761,"position":1},"title":"U.S. Global Media Agency to Lay Off Hundreds at VOA, RFA, and RFE\/RL","author":"Thomas","date":"August 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Guardian is reporting that more than 500 full-time employees at Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded broadcasters will soon be laid off. The U.S. Agency for Global Media announced that 532 federal positions are being cut, part of a larger restructuring effort that\u2019s already stirred up legal challenges\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Broadcasting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/K3VOA12.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/K3VOA12.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/K3VOA12.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/K3VOA12.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/K3VOA12.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10081,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/sweeping-cuts-to-voa-rfe-and-rfa-shortwave-services\/","url_meta":{"origin":63761,"position":2},"title":"Sweeping cuts to VOA, RFE and RFA shortwave services","author":"Thomas","date":"June 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Unfortunate news from the Voice of America: Congress has approved major\u00a0cuts to US international broadcasting over shortwave. Thanks to Dan Robinson for sharing this significant\u00a0news. Dan writes: This news emerging from VOA late Friday: VOA to end shortwave broadcasts in English and several language services Monday. Received this late Friday\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Broadcasters&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Voice_of_America_Headquarters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Voice_of_America_Headquarters.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Voice_of_America_Headquarters.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Voice_of_America_Headquarters.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Voice_of_America_Headquarters.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8977,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/deadline-approaching-bbg-seeks-public-comment-on-relevancy-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":63761,"position":3},"title":"Deadline approaching: BBG seeks public comment on relevancy of shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"March 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Reminder: The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)\u00a0is asking for your comments\u00a0on the relevancy of shortwave radio broadcasting. In short, simply send the BBG an email (limited to 1,200 words or less) with your comments\u00a0by Friday (March 14th, 2014).\u00a0The BBG has set up the following email address:\u00a0ShortwaveCommittee@bbg.gov Click here for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Broadcasters&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Students in South Sudan listen to their favorite shortwave radio program, VOA Special English.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/DSCN2988wtmk-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10339,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/voa-and-rfa-via-homemade-radios-in-north-korea\/","url_meta":{"origin":63761,"position":4},"title":"VOA and RFA via homemade radios in North Korea","author":"Thomas","date":"July 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Anil, for sharing this article regarding the importance and inspiration radio provides to many North Koreans. This comes from our favorite North Korea independent news site, NK News. Here's a quote from the article from a North Korean defector known as\u00a0\"Park\": \u201cI have been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Clandestine&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Clandestine","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/clandestine\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"FlagNorthKorea","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/FlagNorthKorea1-300x215.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":64281,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/10\/interview-with-katie-thornton-on-the-brian-lehrer-show\/","url_meta":{"origin":63761,"position":5},"title":"Interview with Katie Thornton on The Brian Lehrer Show","author":"Thomas","date":"October 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Larry Shmagin, who recently discovered this May 2025 interview with Katie Thornton, host of The Divided Dial series, on The Brian Lehrer Show (WNYC). Click here to listen to the show on WNYC or use the embedded player below:","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_20160903_085705777.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_20160903_085705777.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_20160903_085705777.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_20160903_085705777.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63761"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63762,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63761\/revisions\/63762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}