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Presented in 27 languages to 23 countries,<ref>{{cite web|title=RFE/RL Language Services|url=https://pressroom.rferl.org/p/6087.html|website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref> RFE/RL has been headquartered in the Czech city of [[Prague]] since 1995 and has 21 local bureaus with over 500 core staff and 1,300 stringers and freelancers in countries throughout their broadcast region. Additionally, there are 680 employees at the organization's headquarters and corporate office in [[Washington, D.C.]]
Presented in 27 languages to 23 countries,<ref>{{cite web|title=RFE/RL Language Services|url=https://pressroom.rferl.org/p/6087.html|website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref> RFE/RL has been headquartered in the Czech city of [[Prague]] since 1995 and has 21 local bureaus with over 500 core staff and 1,300 stringers and freelancers in countries throughout their broadcast region. Additionally, there are 680 employees at the organization's headquarters and corporate office in [[Washington, D.C.]]


During the [[Cold War]], RFE was primarily aimed at broadcasting to [[Soviet empire|Soviet satellite states]], including the [[Baltic states under Soviet rule (1944–1991)|Baltic states]], and RL targeted the [[Soviet Union]] itself. RFE was founded by the [[National Committee for a Free Europe]] as an anti-communist propaganda<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3648&context=lcp#page=3 |last=Uttaro |first=Ralph A. |title=The voices of America in international radio propaganda |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |volume=45 |number=4 |year=1982 |pages=103–122 |doi=10.2307/1191297 |jstor=1191297 }}</ref> source in 1949, while RL was founded two years later. They received funds covertly from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] until 1972.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The two organizations merged in 1976. [[Second World|Communist governments]] frequently sent agents to infiltrate RFE's headquarters, and the Soviet Union's [[KGB]] regularly jammed the organization's radio signals. Between 1949 and 1995, RFE/RL was headquartered at [[Englischer Garten]] in the German city of [[Munich]]. Another broadcast site was operated at the Portuguese village of [[Glória do Ribatejo]] from 1951 to 1996. Since the [[Revolutions of 1989]] and the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], the organization's European operations have been reduced.
During the [[Cold War]], RFE was primarily aimed at broadcasting to [[Soviet empire|Soviet satellite states]], including the [[Baltic states under Soviet rule (1944–1991)|Baltic states]], and RL targeted the Soviet Union itself. RFE was founded by the [[National Committee for a Free Europe]] as an anti-communist propaganda<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3648&context=lcp#page=3 |last=Uttaro |first=Ralph A. |title=The voices of America in international radio propaganda |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |volume=45 |number=4 |year=1982 |pages=103–122 |doi=10.2307/1191297 |jstor=1191297 }}</ref> source in 1949, while RL was founded two years later. They received funds covertly from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] until 1972.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The two organizations merged in 1976. [[Second World|Communist governments]] frequently sent agents to infiltrate RFE's headquarters, and the Soviet Union's [[KGB]] regularly jammed the organization's radio signals. Between 1949 and 1995, RFE/RL was headquartered at [[Englischer Garten]] in the German city of [[Munich]]. Another broadcast site was operated at the Portuguese village of [[Glória do Ribatejo]] from 1951 to 1996. Since the [[Revolutions of 1989]] and the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], the organization's European operations have been reduced.


==Early history==
==Early history==
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=== Radio Liberty ===
=== Radio Liberty ===
[[File:Radio Liberty Pals.jpg|thumb|Antennas of RFE's/RL's transmission facilities on the beach of Pals (Catalonia, Spain) in 2005]]
[[File:Radio Liberty Pals.jpg|thumb|Antennas of RFE's/RL's transmission facilities on the beach of Pals (Catalonia, Spain) in 2005]]
Whereas Radio Free Europe broadcast to [[Soviet satellite]] countries, Radio Liberty broadcast to the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|p=43}}</ref> Radio Liberty was formed by [[American Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia]] (Amcomlib) in 1951.<ref name="Johnson 2010 37, 43">{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|pp=37, 43}}</ref> Originally named Radio Liberation from Bolshevism, the station was renamed in 1956 to Radio Liberation in 1956, and received its present name, Radio Liberty after a policy statement emphasizing "liberalization" rather than "liberation".<ref name="Cummings|2008|p=170">{{harvnb|Cummings|2008|p=170}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cummings|first=Richard H.|date=December 14, 2021|title=Soviet Cold War Operations against RFE/RL Ukrainian Service|access-date=July 30, 2024|url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/soviet-cold-war-operations-against-rfe-rl-ukrainian-service.html|publisher=[[Kyiv Post]]}}</ref>
Whereas Radio Free Europe broadcast to [[Soviet satellite]] countries, Radio Liberty broadcast to the Soviet Union.<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|p=43}}</ref> Radio Liberty was formed by [[American Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia]] (Amcomlib) in 1951.<ref name="Johnson 2010 37, 43">{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|pp=37, 43}}</ref> Originally named Radio Liberation from Bolshevism, the station was renamed in 1956 to Radio Liberation in 1956, and received its present name, Radio Liberty after a policy statement emphasizing "liberalization" rather than "liberation".<ref name="Cummings|2008|p=170">{{harvnb|Cummings|2008|p=170}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cummings|first=Richard H.|date=December 14, 2021|title=Soviet Cold War Operations against RFE/RL Ukrainian Service|access-date=July 30, 2024|url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/soviet-cold-war-operations-against-rfe-rl-ukrainian-service.html|publisher=[[Kyiv Post]]}}</ref>


Radio Liberty began broadcasting from [[Lampertheim]] on March 1, 1953, gaining a substantial audience when it covered the death of [[Joseph Stalin]] four days later. In order to better serve a greater geographic area, RFE supplemented its [[shortwave|shortwave transmissions]] from Lampertheim with broadcasts from a transmitter base at [[Glória do Ribatejo|Glória]], [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]] in 1951.<ref>{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=48}}</ref> It also had a base at [[Oberwiesenfeld Army Airfield|Oberwiesenfeld Airport]] on the outskirts of Munich,<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|p=37}}</ref> employing several former Nazi agents who had been involved in the [[Ostministerium]] under [[Gerhard von Mende]] during World War II.<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|pp=49–64}}</ref> In 1955, Radio Liberty began broadcasting programs to Russia's eastern provinces from shortwave transmitters located on [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=110}}</ref> In 1959, Radio Liberty commenced broadcasts from a base at [[Pals|Platja de Pals]], [[Francoist Spain|Spain]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=80}}</ref>
Radio Liberty began broadcasting from [[Lampertheim]] on March 1, 1953, gaining a substantial audience when it covered the death of [[Joseph Stalin]] four days later. In order to better serve a greater geographic area, RFE supplemented its [[shortwave|shortwave transmissions]] from Lampertheim with broadcasts from a transmitter base at [[Glória do Ribatejo|Glória]], [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]] in 1951.<ref>{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=48}}</ref> It also had a base at [[Oberwiesenfeld Army Airfield|Oberwiesenfeld Airport]] on the outskirts of Munich,<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|p=37}}</ref> employing several former Nazi agents who had been involved in the [[Ostministerium]] under [[Gerhard von Mende]] during World War II.<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|2010|pp=49–64}}</ref> In 1955, Radio Liberty began broadcasting programs to Russia's eastern provinces from shortwave transmitters located on [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=110}}</ref> In 1959, Radio Liberty commenced broadcasts from a base at [[Pals|Platja de Pals]], [[Francoist Spain|Spain]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=80}}</ref>
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RFE/RL received funds from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] until 1972.<ref name="Wilson Center 2021">{{cite web | title=Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty | website=Wilson Center | date=7 September 2021 | url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/radio-free-europe-and-radio-liberty | access-date=15 October 2021 | author=A. Ross Johnson }}</ref><ref name="Puddington, Arch 2003">{{harvnb|Puddington|2003|p=196}}</ref> The CIA's relationship with the radio stations began to break down in 1967, when ''[[Ramparts (magazine)|Ramparts]]'' magazine published an exposé claiming that the CIA was channeling funds to civilian organizations. Further investigation into the CIA's funding activities revealed its connection to both RFE and RL, sparking significant media outrage.<ref name="Mickelson 1983 126">{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=126}}.</ref>
RFE/RL received funds from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] until 1972.<ref name="Wilson Center 2021">{{cite web | title=Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty | website=Wilson Center | date=7 September 2021 | url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/radio-free-europe-and-radio-liberty | access-date=15 October 2021 | author=A. Ross Johnson }}</ref><ref name="Puddington, Arch 2003">{{harvnb|Puddington|2003|p=196}}</ref> The CIA's relationship with the radio stations began to break down in 1967, when ''[[Ramparts (magazine)|Ramparts]]'' magazine published an exposé claiming that the CIA was channeling funds to civilian organizations. Further investigation into the CIA's funding activities revealed its connection to both RFE and RL, sparking significant media outrage.<ref name="Mickelson 1983 126">{{harvnb|Mickelson|1983|p=126}}.</ref>


In 1971, the radio stations came under public spotlight once more when [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Clifford Case]] introduced [[Senate Bill]] 18, which would have removed funding for RFE and RL from the CIA's budget, appropriated $30 million to pay for [[fiscal year]] 1972 activities, and required the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] to temporarily oversee the radio stations.<ref name="Puddington, Arch 2003"/>
In 1971, the radio stations came under public spotlight once more when [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Clifford Case]] introduced [[Senate Bill]] 18, which would have removed funding for RFE and RL from the CIA's budget, appropriated $30 million to pay for fiscal year 1972 activities, and required the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] to temporarily oversee the radio stations.<ref name="Puddington, Arch 2003"/>


In May 1972, President [[Richard Nixon]] appointed a [[Presidential Commission (United States)|special commission]] to deliberate RFE/RL's future.<ref>{{harvnb|Puddington|2003|p=209}}</ref> The commission proposed that funding come directly from the United States Congress and that a new organization, the [[Board for International Broadcasting]] (BIB) would simultaneously link the stations and the federal government, and serve as an editorial buffer between them.<ref>{{harvnb|Puddington|2003|p=210}}</ref>
In May 1972, President [[Richard Nixon]] appointed a [[Presidential Commission (United States)|special commission]] to deliberate RFE/RL's future.<ref>{{harvnb|Puddington|2003|p=209}}</ref> The commission proposed that funding come directly from the United States Congress and that a new organization, the [[Board for International Broadcasting]] (BIB) would simultaneously link the stations and the federal government, and serve as an editorial buffer between them.<ref>{{harvnb|Puddington|2003|p=210}}</ref>
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=== Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution ===
=== Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution ===
Following the [[Velvet Revolution#Friday, November 17, 1989|November 17 demonstrations]] in 1989 and brutal crackdown by Czechoslovak riot police, {{Not translated|Drahomíra Dražská|lt=|cs|Drahomíra Dražská|WD=}}, a porter at a dormitory in Prague, reported that a student, [[Martin Šmíd]], had been killed during the clashes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kenety|first=Brian|date=16 November 2019|title=1989: the Velvet Revolution in context (or how 'November' began in 'January')|url=https://english.radio.cz/1989-velvet-revolution-context-or-how-november-began-january-8115387|access-date=7 December 2020|publisher=[[Radio Prague]]}}</ref> The [[Charter 77]] activist [[Petr Uhl]] believed this account and passed it along to major news organizations, who broadcast it.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sebestyen|first=Victor|title=Revolution 1989: The Fall Of The Soviet Empire|publisher=[[Orion Publishing Group]]|year=2009|isbn=9780297857884|pages=370–371|author-link=Victor Sebestyen}}</ref> After [[Reuters]] and the [[Voice of America]] (VOA) reported the story, RFE/RL decided to run it too.<ref>{{cite web|date=16 November 2009|title=Unraveling the Šmid death story|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/off_mic_smid_death_story/1879520.html|access-date=7 December 2020|website=RFE/RL}}</ref> However, the report later turned out to be false. The story is credited by many sources with inspiring Czechoslovak citizens to join the subsequent (larger) demonstrations which eventually brought down the communist government.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nelson|first=Michael|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45731476|title=War of the black heavens : the battles of Western broadcasting in the Cold War|publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]]|year=1997|isbn=0-585-29377-5|edition=1st|location=Syracuse, N.Y.|pages=184–186|oclc=45731476}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Šiška|first=Miroslav|date=18 November 2018|title=Mrtvý Šmíd z Národní třídy. Stěžejní událost, která se nestala|trans-title=Dead Šmíd from Národní třída. A major event that did not happen|url=https://www.novinky.cz/historie/17-listopad/clanek/mrtvy-smid-z-narodni-tridy-stezejni-udalost-ktera-se-nestala-40256470|access-date=7 December 2020|website=[[Novinky.cz]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ash|first=Timothy Garton|date=5 November 2009|title=1989!|work=[[The New York Review of Books]]|url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2009/11/05/1989/|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115092357/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2009/11/05/1989/|archive-date=15 January 2016|issn=0028-7504}}</ref>
Following the [[Velvet Revolution#Friday, November 17, 1989|November 17 demonstrations]] in 1989 and brutal crackdown by Czechoslovak riot police, {{Not translated|Drahomíra Dražská|lt=|cs|Drahomíra Dražská|WD=}}, a porter at a dormitory in Prague, reported that a student, [[Martin Šmíd]], had been killed during the clashes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kenety|first=Brian|date=16 November 2019|title=1989: the Velvet Revolution in context (or how 'November' began in 'January')|url=https://english.radio.cz/1989-velvet-revolution-context-or-how-november-began-january-8115387|access-date=7 December 2020|publisher=[[Radio Prague]]}}</ref> The [[Charter 77]] activist [[Petr Uhl]] believed this account and passed it along to major news organizations, who broadcast it.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sebestyen|first=Victor|title=Revolution 1989: The Fall Of The Soviet Empire|publisher=[[Orion Publishing Group]]|year=2009|isbn=9780297857884|pages=370–371|author-link=Victor Sebestyen}}</ref> After Reuters and the [[Voice of America]] (VOA) reported the story, RFE/RL decided to run it too.<ref>{{cite web|date=16 November 2009|title=Unraveling the Šmid death story|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/off_mic_smid_death_story/1879520.html|access-date=7 December 2020|website=RFE/RL}}</ref> However, the report later turned out to be false. The story is credited by many sources with inspiring Czechoslovak citizens to join the subsequent (larger) demonstrations which eventually brought down the communist government.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nelson|first=Michael|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45731476|title=War of the black heavens : the battles of Western broadcasting in the Cold War|publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]]|year=1997|isbn=0-585-29377-5|edition=1st|location=Syracuse, N.Y.|pages=184–186|oclc=45731476}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Šiška|first=Miroslav|date=18 November 2018|title=Mrtvý Šmíd z Národní třídy. Stěžejní událost, která se nestala|trans-title=Dead Šmíd from Národní třída. A major event that did not happen|url=https://www.novinky.cz/historie/17-listopad/clanek/mrtvy-smid-z-narodni-tridy-stezejni-udalost-ktera-se-nestala-40256470|access-date=7 December 2020|website=[[Novinky.cz]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ash|first=Timothy Garton|date=5 November 2009|title=1989!|work=[[The New York Review of Books]]|url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2009/11/05/1989/|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115092357/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2009/11/05/1989/|archive-date=15 January 2016|issn=0028-7504}}</ref>


==After 1991==
==After 1991==
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