Your support means the world to Radio Prague International
Radio Prague International would like to thank our listeners around the world for the extraordinary support and solidarity you have shown us in recent months. Your messages have meant a great deal to all of us at RPI and have given us an enormous boost in morale.
All of us here at RPI would like to thank our listeners for the wave of support and solidarity you showed in response to news of the threat of closure earlier this year. Without you, our broadcasts could not fulfil their most important mission: building a bridge between Czechia and the world.
To highlight the strong bond that has survived and grown over the 90 years of our existence, we are publishing excerpts from some of the many letters, emails and audio messages we received.
Frank Hansen, California
“I am writing from California to tell you what Radio Prague International means to me, in the hope that it helps make the case for keeping the international service.
"I usually listen to Czechia in 30 Minutes every day and read Czech news in English. I am not an émigré. I am the grandchild of one. In 2024 I received Czech citizenship through my grandmother, Růžena Kafková, who emigrated to Chicago in 1920 at the age of 18. I have traveled back to Czechia for two summer Czech language and culture courses. Radio Prague is how I follow my second country as an informed citizen rather than a tourist.
"This June my family and I placed three Stolpersteine on Maiselova Street in Josefov for my grandmother's brother and his family, who lived there for twenty years before they were deported. Radio Prague is an independent Czech voice that carries the rich and often tragic history of this country to families like mine and to the wider world, and I strongly believe that matters.
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"It is true that information about Czechia is available online. But much of it is not in a language foreign audiences or learners can follow, is not reliable, or does not explain the context. Radio Prague does all three. What I value most are the longer stories in Czechia in 30 Minutes: the features on people, places, history and culture that never appear in basic news coverage in English. They are what help me to understand the country, not just know what happened in it. They are also one of the reasons people like me feel Czech, not just hold the passport.
Please count me among the listeners who would be genuinely poorer without it. Thank you for your work.“
Debra Polacek, USA
“It is my understanding that funding of the Radio Prague International broadcasting service may end.
“As a fourth generation Czech American, I rely on Radio Prague International to bring news and information to me. I listen quite often to the broadcasts and always find them interesting and newsworthy.
“During the summer of 2024 my husband and I were both students in the Czech language class for compatriots at Poděbrady. It was with great delight and respect that we were able to visit the station in Prague with our language classmates. Why did we feel this way? The radio represents the Czechs' struggle for freedom: freedom of speech and expression. It also represents the Czechs' determination to resist oppression from the Nazi occupation and the Communist regime. I felt humbled to walk in the station's hallways and street front.
“I also study the Czech language at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. We use the broadcasts and information from Radio Prague International for our classroom discussions and coursework.
“I hope that Radio Prague International can be funded for all those who use its services around the world.”
Tom Duncan, USA
“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 have 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.”
David, US
“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, Deutsche Welle, 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.”
Christopher Lewis
“In about 1998, I started listening to international broadcasts and Radio Prague was one of the first I tuned into. I listened right up until the end when the shortwave broadcasts ceased. And I enjoyed every minute of it. ”
Mohamed, Egypt
“I recently visited the special page dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Radio Prague, and I was deeply moved by the exhibition of listeners’ letters, especially those that captured the extraordinary connection between the station and its audience during the events of 1968.
"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 kilometers 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.
"That is what made this exhibition particularly special to me. Those letters reminded me that radio is not only about transmitting sound; it is about preserving memories, creating friendships and bringing people closer together across languages, cultures and generations.
"Ninety years is an extraordinary journey. Radio Prague has witnessed a changing world, while continuing to leave its voice in the memories of generations of listeners. 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.
"Congratulations to everyone at Radio Prague International on this remarkable 90th anniversary.
"May the voice from Prague continue to travel far beyond the Czech Republic, carrying not only news and stories, but also something much more precious: friendship between people.”
Peter, USA
“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.”
Douglas Gibb, Scotland
“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 those early days, listening to Radio Prague.”
Catherine Kraina, Australia
“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.”
Diego Fandos, Spain
“The first time I heard Radio Prague International was when I was about 10 years old. My father picked it up on a large radio receiver we had at home. It was the 1980s, and it sounded as if the broadcast was coming from Mars. Radio Prague was the first ambassador of the then distant and mysterious Czechoslovakia in a small Spanish town. Now I hear that Radio Prague could come to an end. Can you imagine the Czech Republic without Radio Prague? Yes, why not? Just as you can imagine a motorway built across Charles Bridge, the National Theatre turned into a gambling hall, or Becherovka flavoured with Coca-Cola. All of that is possible, but surely no one would want it. Radio Prague is still a great ambassador for the Czech Republic today. An ambassador like the New Wave cinema once was, or Pavel Nedvěd’s legs or Eva Herzigová’s eyes.”
David Montiel, Mexico
“Hello, good morning. My name is David Montiel. I live here in the Czech Republic and I am Mexican. I am sending you a voice message to congratulate you on the 90th anniversary of the founding of Radio Prague International. I also want to express my solidarity at a time of budget cuts that are currently taking place in the Czech Republic. Above all, I want to share my story. I moved to the Czech Republic seven years ago, and it was very important for me to find a way to stay informed about what was happening here. I found several sources in English, but I was particularly impressed that there was this station where I could get information in Spanish, my native language. Every morning, when I drive to work, I listen to episodes of Radio Prague International on Spotify to stay informed about current events and what is coming up. I really want to tell you that Radio Prague International is very important in my life.”
Alejandro, Venezuela
“Hello. My name is Alejandro and I wanted to tell you that I have been following Radio Prague International since around 2009. I am from Venezuela. I started following it because my grandmother was Czech, and I wanted to be informed about what was happening in her country. I discovered that you not only have a news section, but also content about culture, history and even a short Czech course with material on the accusative and genitive, which is important for learning the language. So from that moment on, I started following you and I still pay attention to every piece of material Radio Prague International publishes. I really hope that the Radio International project will continue to operate, that your work will continue. It is very important work for the entire Spanish-speaking community, not just in one country but around the world, because you offer broadcasts in several languages."
Javiera Trujillo, Mexico
“My story with Radio Prague International began in mid-2020, when I bought a battery-powered radio that fortunately had a shortwave band. I remember it was about 5:30 in the morning when I heard your broadcast on the frequency of 5010 kilohertz. For me, it was the perfect motivation because I had just started studying communications at the Autonomous University in my state. Time passed and I continued listening to you… Now, when public-service media and the media in general are somehow in the sights of those in power, I think it is very important to recognise the significance of public-service broadcasting and, above all, Radio Prague International, both for the young student I was then and for me as a teacher today. I believe that if I had not come across Radio Prague International on the airwaves, I would never have learned about your beautiful country, nor would I have been interested in it.”
Michael, Germany
“There is an unshakeable symbiosis between us. Your programs are a labour of love for me. Sometimes I feel such a strong connection with the Czech mentality, as if Czech blood were flowing through my heart. Radio Prague has profoundly influenced my life. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful friendship. The German-language broadcasts from Prague bring people together and build bridges.”
Anglo-American University in Prague –excerpt from long letter of support
"We are current and former students of journalism, media and communications at Anglo-American University in Prague. In several of our courses we have worked with Radio Prague International, getting to know the different language sections, studying and even contributing to their output. We are greatly impressed by the material produced by RPI on a wide variety of platforms and are horrified to hear that the station may be closed altogether from the end of this year.
"Through our cooperation with RPI and after meeting staff, we have recognised the strongpersonal commitment of the station’s journalists, who are working under considerable financial constraints. Their work deserves recognition and support. We hope that this letter will contribute to Radio Prague International’s continued recognition as a vital part of the Czech Republic’s media landscape."
