About RFE/RL

reporting the facts

Our Mission

RFE/RL’s mission is to promote democratic values by providing accurate, uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is threatened and disinformation is pervasive. RFE/RL reports the facts, undaunted by pressure.

While historically known for radio broadcasting behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, today’s RFE/RL seeks to reach audiences where they are, prioritizing digital platforms and innovative censorship circumvention strategies.

Advocacy

RFE/RL 101

Vital Statistics

47.4M

People reached every week by RFE/RL’s coverage (FY2024)

759M

Visits to RFE/RL websites
(January–December 2024)

142.2M

Budget (FY2024)

1,300+

Staff around the world

23 Countries, 27 Languages

RFE/RL reports in 27 languages to 23 countries reaching more than 47 million people every week. With over 1,300 staff and more than 20 bureaus, RFE/RL is one of the most comprehensive news operations in the world, filling an essential market gap in many countries where a free press is banned by the government or not yet fully established.

Where We Work

Afghan Service

Despite significant pressure from the Taliban, Radio Azadi is one of the most popular and trusted media outlets in Afghanistan.

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Kyrgyz Service

Radio Azattyk is an award-winning, multimedia source of independent news in Kyrgyzstan.

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Russian Service

Radio Svoboda is a multi-platform alternative to state-controlled media, providing audiences in Russia and abroad with informed and accurate news and analysis.

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Journalism and Editorial Independence

RFE/RL’s credibility and effectiveness depends on the trust our audiences place in our work. Our Standards of Ethical Journalism are available for review in English and Russian.

Standards of Ethical Journalism (English)

Standards of Ethical Journalism (Russian)

Independent

RFE/RL, Inc. is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded by the U.S. Congress through a grant from the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent federal government agency that oversees all U.S. civilian international media, including Voice of America, Radio and TV Marti, and the non-profit corporations that are grantees: RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. USAGM also oversees the Open Technology Fund, which finances the development and distribution of cutting-edge technologies and techniques to counter efforts by repressive regimes and closed societies to block access to objective news and information.

Credible

An essential guarantee of the journalistic credibility of RFE/RL is the “firewall” enshrined in USAGM’s authorizing legislation, the U.S. International Broadcasting Act.

The firewall prohibits interference by U.S. government officials, including USAGM’s Chief Executive Officer, in the objective, independent reporting of news by RFE/RL, thereby safeguarding the ability of our journalists to develop content that reflects the highest professional standards of journalism. The firewall ensures that RFE/RL journalists and editors can make the final decisions on what stories to cover and how to cover them. The results of this policy are clear: audiences trust RFE/RL.

History

For 75 years, RFE/RL has served as a beacon of hope, leading audiences out of information darkness. RFE/RL’s work remains as relevant as ever since our first broadcast in 1950.

Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were created to serve as surrogate broadcasters providing trustworthy, locally relevant news, analysis and cultural programming to audiences subject to Communist propaganda. Both outlets grew, evolved, and consolidated in the 1970s, but our mission remains timeless. Today’s RFE/RL builds on this proud legacy.

Our History

Meet our board

Board of Directors

RFE/RL, Inc. is a private nonprofit corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware. Our Board of Directors makes all major policy determinations governing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) operations. Each member of the RFE/RL Board of Directors is required by federal law to have “requisite expertise in journalism, technology, broadcasting, diplomacy, or appropriate language or cultural understanding” relevant to RFE/RL’s mission. Government employees are prohibited by law from serving on the RFE/RL Board.