About RFE/RL
Uncensored News. On Every Platform.
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.
Vital Statistics
People reached every week by RFE/RL’s coverage (FY2024)
Visits to RFE/RL websites
(January–December 2023)
Budget (FY2024)
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 1,700 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.
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.
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 over 70 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.
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.
Lisa Curtis
Stephen Capus
Scott Carpenter
Usha Chaudhary
Jackson Diehl
Margaret Hoover
Michael Kempner
Kristin Lord
Tom Malinowski
Vance Serchuk
Senior Leadership
RFE/RL is overseen by a Board of Directors, chaired by Lisa Curtis, and Senior Leadership led by President Stephen Capus.
Stephen Capus
Nicola Careem
Joseph Lataille
Benjamin Herman
Tanya Youngberg
Christine Fetzko
Marylin Keating
James Landis
Paul Tibbitts
Diane Zeleny
Careers at RFE/RL
We’re looking for talented, mission-driven individuals to join our team.
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