Radio Free [better] Europe/radio Liberty May 2026

RFE/RL began as two separate entities during the early years of the Cold War:

Founded in 1953 (originally as "Radio Liberation from Bolshevism"), it broadcast specifically to the peoples of the Soviet Union. radio free europe/radio liberty

is an American state-funded, yet editorially independent, international news organization that provides uncensored news and analysis to regions where a free press is banned or restricted. Based in Prague since 1995, it broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Mission and Purpose RFE/RL began as two separate entities during the

Initially, both organizations were covertly funded by the as part of a psychological warfare strategy to counter Soviet propaganda. In 1971, CIA ties were severed, and the organizations were placed under the oversight of a presidentially appointed board. They officially merged into a single corporation in 1976. Evolution and Modern Impact Evolution and Modern Impact The primary mission of

The primary mission of RFE/RL is to promote democratic values and institutions by reporting accurate news in countries where media freedom is under threat. Unlike many international broadcasters, RFE/RL acts as a "surrogate" broadcaster, providing the same type of local and regional news that a domestic free press would provide if it were allowed to exist. Historical Origins

Established in 1950, it focused on Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.