In light of US President Donald Trump’s administration attempting to cease funding allocated to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) by Congress, the broadcaster’s audience across its coverage area has shown strong appreciation for its journalism.
From Iran and Belarus to Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan, and Ukraine, users are commending RFE/RL journalists for their courageous, fair, and truthful reporting from conflict zones and some of the most oppressive political and media environments worldwide, voicing worries over the potential discontinuation of the service.
“In my small village, we lack satellite and consistent Internet access. Your radio gives me hope,” a listener in Iran conveyed in a Telegram message to Radio Farda, RFE/RL’s Persian-language service.
Another Iranian listener expressed on social media that Radio Farda “is my primary source of information due to its unbiased and expert reporting,” and voiced the hope that “losing it would be very difficult.”
On March 14, Trump enacted an executive order to reduce seven federal agencies, including the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFE/RL and other taxpayer-funded broadcasters like Voice of America (VOA).
Although the agency’s acting CEO Kari Lake dispatched a letter indicating the cessation of the congressionally approved grant funding RFE/RL, the broadcaster is actively pursuing its operations and filed a federal lawsuit on March 18 aimed at preventing USAGM’s termination of its federal grant crucial for its operations.
Unlike VOA, which operates as a federal agency, RFE/RL functions as a private, nonprofit organization with its corporate headquarters based in Delaware and editorial headquarters in Prague.
Shining Through the ‘Darkness of Deceit’
In Ukraine, RFE/RL journalists have been reporting on Russia’s comprehensive invasion initiated by President Vladimir Putin since February 2022. Reader Oleh Prozorov thanked RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service for its vital role in protecting political freedoms, noting, “You have been a ray of light piercing through the darkness of lies,” Prozorov stated on Facebook.
A listener named Lesya Bondaruk expressed fears about losing “a bastion of true freedom of speech and thought,” asserting, “An attack on Radio Liberty is an attack on humanity’s freedom of speech. We cannot allow this.”
Readers and viewers from RFE/RL’s Russian-language services showed gratitude for the coverage of their country amidst a significant decline in press freedoms under Putin, which has grown more pervasive since the invasion of Ukraine.
“In Russia, I am surrounded by Kremlin’s zombifying, malicious propaganda. Current Time remains the sole trusted Russian-language TV channel providing objective information and a multitude of documentaries,” shared one viewer from RFE/RL’s 24/7 Russian-language TV channel.
Another viewer from Current Time commended the reporters for their bravery in covering frontline areas, praising the professionalism of the channels’ anchors and the high caliber of journalism.
A ‘Beacon of Hope’ in Afghanistan
RFE/RL has received an outpouring of messages and calls from listeners in Afghanistan and Pakistan, voicing deep concerns regarding the future of the broadcaster’s Afghan Service, referred to locally as Radio Azadi.
“Radio Azadi is vital for us, providing updates about the world. I tune in day and night, whether on the radio or phone,” shared listener Haji Khodaiberdi via WhatsApp.
Another listener, Safa Mehr from a remote village, remarked that “Radio Azadi is a ray of hope for often-forgotten countries, connecting individuals from small towns to the world. Its voice provides reassurance, and I hope its programs remain effective and vibrant.”
Nabiullah Zabuli from Zabul Province urged Trump and “others who have the power to influence this decision to reconsider” the funding cuts for Radio Azadi, pleading, “Do not betray your millions of loyal listeners. Keep this source of information alive.”
Heela Darkhast Ahmadzai stated that both Radio Azadi and Mashaal serve as enlightening platforms that significantly benefited Pashtun women in understanding their rights and education.
Another listener, Ebadullah Khan from Pakistan’s Shangla district, highlighted on Facebook that the journalists “worked with courage” and that their dedication to raising awareness is commendable.
This Story Must Continue
In Belarus, where independent media has nearly been eradicated by the regime of Alexandr Lukashenko, RFE/RL’s Belarusian Service remains one of the few critical news outlets still operational.
Following the Ukrainian invasion, reader Zmitrok Siemieniuk sought information and discovered Radio Svaboda’s YouTube channel, expressing gratitude for its unbiased reporting stating, “You provide news free from propaganda and hatred.”
Another reader, Tatsiana, reflected on Radio Svaboda as the only source where she felt like a true citizen of free Belarus, asserting that “this mission remains incomplete – this story must go on.”
