Radio Prague International celebrating 90 years on the air with you!
What better way for a radio station to celebrate its 90th birthday than together with its listeners? Enjoy today’s special birthday program, where the main stars are our listeners from around the world.
90 years ago, Radio Prague International was created as a strategic weapon against Nazi propaganda. Through the crackle of the airwaves, presidents, ordinary people and visionaries spoke to listeners abroad. Today, however, it will be you, our listeners abroad, who will be speaking to the world through our broadcasts. Over the summer, we received many emails and voice messages in response to our invitation to celebrate our anniversary with us in this way.
Several messages came from the United States, where large numbers of Czechoslovaks settled during the 20th century, built families and communities, and where their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are growing up today. One of them is our listener, Peter.
“Hello, Radio Prague. My name is Peter and I've been a faithful listener for about the last seven years and love to catch up on current events in the Czech Republic on your program. I'm a first-generation American. My parents are originally from Ostrava and Poděbrady. I am fluent in Czech, thanks to my parents, and constant studying, including the Masaryk School in Chicago with their online courses. My favorite features with Radio Prague International are Prague off the beaten track with Vít Pohanka and Prague Talk with Ian Willoughby. Thank you for your quality program and for bringing the Czech Republic to my home in Colorado.”
Radio Prague International also has listeners in Scotland. One of them is Douglas Gibb, who has been listening to our broadcasts for 50 years!
“I've known Radio Prague for over 50 years, since I started listening as a schoolboy in 1976, when I was a member of the Radio Prague Monitor Club. Radio Prague today means that it keeps me in touch with what's happening in the Czech Republic. Radio Prague also introduced me to Czechoslovakia, as it was then, and I became treasurer for the British Czech and Slovak Association for around 20 years, no doubt starting from that early days, listening to Radio Prague. And one archive story, which I remember that resonates, is the story about Lidice on June 10, 1942. Having listened to Radio Prague in 1976, that story has always resonated in my mind, and the date has always been there in my mind also.”
That was a beautiful story, thank you, Douglas! Speaking of impressive messages we have received from our listeners, here is an email from Catherine Kraina, Melbourne, Australia. When asked which of our stories resonated with her the most, she replied:
“There was an article on Rachael Weiss applying for Czech citizenship during the 12 month window in 2014 when it finally became possible, alerting me to the opportunity to apply. Dual citizenship was not allowed before that. The window became permanent later, but I rushed to gather up all the documents needed and flew to the Czech consulate in Sydney. It took me a couple of years to get a Czech birth certificate, citizenship and then a passport. Finally I got an ID card in 2025. So RPI really did me a big favour. I am so grateful that the RPI daily email flagged this for me.”
And we are equally grateful to play such an important role in the lives of our listeners. Today, Czech Radio’s international broadcasting service is celebrating its 90th birthday. While we currently broadcast in 6 languages, there were many more languages in the past, including Swahili. And this is how the opening of the international service’s programme in Africa sounded in December 1965. Although we no longer broadcast in Swahili, Radio Prague International still has listeners in Africa today, including in Nigeria.
“Hello, this is Emmanuel, respondent from Umahia, Nigeria. Radio Prague International is my window to Czech Republic and Central Europe, to be precise. The story that resonated with me is the story of Alexander Dubček, the fall of the communist regime, how Moscow was watching, and the charismatic leadership of Mr. Dubček and how Moscow was suspicious of him. So that's the story that really resonated with me.”
Thank you very much Emmanuel for your voice message and for sharing your story about Alexander Dubček, who during the so-called Prague Spring in 1968 championed the idea of “socialism with a human face.”
Letters from listeners have been arriving at the international broadcasting service’s newsrooms almost since the very beginning. An enormous number came in 1968, when listeners responded first to the liberalisation of society during the Prague Spring, and then, just a few months later, to the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops and the subsequent occupation. These letters are the subject of a current exhibition at Czech Radio, which we covered on the anniversary of the occupation. One of our listeners from Egypt responded to that story by email. Her eis an excerpt from his message.
“As I read those letters, I felt that I was not simply looking at old pieces of correspondence. I was looking at fragments of a shared history handwritten evidence of how a radio voice from Prague could cross borders, reach distant homes, and become part of the lives and memories of people thousands of kilometres away. As a long-time listener and admirer of international broadcasting, I have always believed that the true value of a radio station cannot be measured only by the programmes it broadcasts, but also by the bridges it builds with its listeners. A letter sent to a distant broadcasting station may seem simple, yet behind it there is a human being listening, caring, responding and wishing to be connected. I hope that, just as those letters from 1968 have survived to tell their story today, the messages and friendships created by Radio Prague’s listeners in our time will one day become part of its history too.”
Some of our listeners’ stories, and their connections to the Czech lands, go all the way back to the Second World War. This is also the case with Tom Duncan.
“My name is Tom Duncan. I live in Parker, Colorado, in the USA. My father was a World War II veteran who helped liberate Western Bohemia and the cities of Pilsen and Domažlice in 1945. He visited the Czech Republic 10 times later in his life for the Pilsen Liberation Festival, and I had opportunities to come to your country for that same festival many times. Last May was my 15th visit. As a result, I've come to love the Czech Republic, and I'm even learning Czech through Karlova Universita online course for foreigners, of which I am the only American and have been so for the last four classes. Radio Prague International became a part of my life about three years ago when I discovered your daily podcast, which I really enjoy and try to listen to each day. I also love the new Blood and Bohemia podcast as well. The story that resonates most with me is one that you did about Czech beer glasses and the surprising fact that Pilsner glasses you drink from every day in the Czech Republic aren't made there. I was excited to learn that they are now being made there, and in fact, this last visit, I was able to buy a couple to bring back to Colorado so I can drink Pilsner beer properly.”
Radio Prague International is also listened to by people living in Czechia. They are often foreigners who study or work in the country and want to stay informed about what is happening here. But sometimes our international broadcasts can play a completely different role in people’s lives. That is the case, for example, with our listener Zora from Central Bohemia.
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“Dear Radio Prague International, I´ve been listening to your news and various stories for about 7 years. Funnily enough it was one of my students who gave me a tip for your website at the start of the Pandemic when we had to switch to on-line teaching. And I´ve been using some of your stories in my English lessons ever since and my students mostly enjoy them a lot. If I want to know what´s going on in the Czech Republic I like to read or listen to it in English. If the news isn´t very positive at least I can tell myself I am practising my English at the same time. I know I can rely on you picking the most important news of the day and have no need to listen to any other information on the Czech radio or television. I just go onto your website on my phone and while walking along the river or uphill towards the forest near where I live I listen to news from culture, nature, society, sports or politics. Wishing you all the best now and in the future and please keep up the quality and credibility of your programmes at all times!”
Thank you very much, Zora! It’s so nice to know that we keep you company in your free time as you listen to us on your phone. Nevertheless, many of the listeners who first started listening to Radio Prague International did so on shortwave. And that is also the case with Christopher Lewis.
“In about 1998, I started listening to international broadcasts and Radio Prague was one of the first who I tuned into. And I listened right up until the end when the shortwave broadcasts ceased. And I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Christopher also told us how he accidentally came across an old LP about Prague recorded by Czech Radio, and how much he treasures this rare discovery.
“I was actually in what we call a second-hand or a charity shop here in the UK, and I flipped through what was in the box there, and I came across this record, and it was called Praga Bohemiae Metropolis. And this record was made in 1967, and it's basically a phono card with music by Czech composers like Dvořák, Bedrich Smetana, Josef Suk, so on and so forth. And it gives like a guided tour of the various districts of Prague, like the Old Town Astronomical Clock, St. Nicholas Church at Malá Strana, and a view from Prague from the Petrin Hill. So it's basically a musical tour of different parts of Prague and the history. It's very, very fascinating. And it was produced with the with the cooperation of Czech Radio, and it was narrated by a very famous Czech translator, František Frohlich. It was absolutely fascinating.”
Among the many emails, letters and voice messages you sent us for our anniversary, all of which made us incredibly happy, I would like to quote one more excerpt from an email we received from our listener David in the USA.
“The summer of 1968; Prague Spring. I was nine years old, in Connecticut USA, in a park with my older sister, who is asking me about what was going on "over there". I had been listening to our latest news on a.m. local broadcast on my "Japanese radio" as they had just come out. "The Russians (meaning the Soviets) invaded Czechoslovakia", I answered. The tanks were at the border beforehand and I listened intently, as a young boy hearing about, and picturing a real "iron curtain". I believe every American heart was with the Czechoslovakian people. As I grew into a teenager, so did my avid interest in foreign affairs, especially in events "over there", in the Soviet sphere of influence. Before the days of satellites and the Internet, My loving father, knew my interest and we built a short wave Radio kit together. That was my "passport to the world"; a window or looking glass far beyond the Horizon to places I dreamed of but thought I'd never be able to travel there myself. I'm sure many of your older worldwide listeners can identify with the importance of international radio broadcasts Long before the advent of the iPhone, when One had to master a skill of DXing to tune in to far away stations and filter the noise surrounding the transmission. I had a small home Radio shack as they were called with my short wave and long wire antenna outside, and spent hours in the evening listening to radio Moscow, the BBC, Radio Nederland, Radio Deutschavelle, Radio Cairo, and of course, Radio Prague! I ended up going into a job involving foreign affairs and as a NATO officer had the opportunity to visit Prague! It was, at the time of my visit, and is, just as majestic and awe inspiring, with its architecture and bridges near the river, as in photos, and from the descriptions from your broadcasts. Truly my favourite city.”
Another longtime supporter of ours is Associate Professor Ivana Bozděchová from Charles University.
“For many years, I have had, I would say, a very warm, indeed heartfelt, deep connection with your station because I have been, among other things, truly delighted that in recent years we have been able to contribute to your fantastic work you do for all of us. Together with my students from Charles University, we've been preparing together a short program Čeština na Vlnách, Czech on the Waves. Given my profession, I highlight the attention your station devotes to compatriots and those abroad who are interested in Czech language. I enjoy listening to you. I recommend you to others. And I honestly greatly appreciate the way you inform listeners abroad about the Czech Republic, let's say both past and present, in all possible contexts. I wish you stayed that way as it has been so far. And please maintain your high professional standards. And I value also your exceptionally human and friendly approach. So I wish that for centuries to come.”
Many thanks to Associate Professor Bozděchová for her kind words. And we have also received some very kind words from Florida, from Radio Miami International!
“Hello from Florida. I'm Jeff White, General Manager of WRMI, Radio Miami International. For many years now, decades actually, our station has transmitted Radio Prague International's programs in English, Spanish, and other languages to audiences throughout the Americas, even in Europe via our 100,000-watt shortwave transmitters. When Radio Prague International had to close its own shortwave transmitters in the Czech Republic, we continued to air the station's programs to listeners who've always been very grateful for the opportunity to hear daily news and other programs about the Czech Republic, something they don't get on their local media. My own relationship with Radio Prague began in 1972 when, as a young student in the state of Indiana, I first turned on a shortwave radio, and the first station I heard was Radio Prague with its daily program in English to North America. So it's a great honor to be able to transmit today's Radio Prague International from our station in Florida. A hearty congratulations to everyone at Radio Prague International, from all of us here at WRMI, and here's wishing you another 90 years of telling the Czech Republic's story to the world.”
Mr White, thank you very much for your kind words. We truly appreciate them, and we are delighted that you took the time to record this wonderful video message for us. To conclude our special programme marking the 90th anniversary of Czech Radio’s international broadcasting, here are a few final words from Czech Radio’s Director General, René Zavoral.
“International broadcasting is seen as a very effective tool of public diplomacy. Above all, it is a way of telling people abroad about what is happening in the Czech Republic and in the Czech space. From my perspective, it is also a wonderful way of maintaining the entire community of Czechs living abroad, as well as people around the world who are interested in Czechia and Czech affairs. And I believe that over these 90 years, Radio Prague International has demonstrated that it is an integral and truly high-quality part of the broadcasting of what was first Czechoslovak Radio and later Czech Radio.”
And without you, our listeners, Radio Prague International could not exist. So once again, a huge thank you to all of you from our team.
