Birthing Democracy: Surrogate Broadcasters and Freedom of the Media in Unfree States

Radio Free Europe began broadcasting from Munich in 1951 and became an unparalleled source of information throughout the Eastern bloc. With its move to Prague in 1995, the geographical focus changed, but not the mission. The US-funded broadcaster continues to promote democratic values by providing uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is threatened and disinformation pervasive, including a number of former Soviet republics. Through fellowship programmes, it also contributes to the training and education of aspiring young journalists from the countries to which it broadcasts. Shota Kincha and Vera Monina, recipients of the Václav Havel Journalism Fellowship 2025, discuss their work, its inherent dangers, and the role of surrogate broadcasters in the twenty-first century.