Dear Readers,
Over the 17 years I’ve been running the SWLing Post, I’ve done my best to make this space a safe haven from divisive politics. This site has always aimed to bring people together through a shared love of shortwave listening, international broadcasting, and radio communications — no matter where they live or how they vote.
That said, the very nature of international broadcasting means that political topics will occasionally surface. When governments decide to decommission transmitters, reduce funding for public broadcasters, or overhaul agencies involved in international communication, the decisions are often political in nature — frequently tied to elected officials or broader geopolitical shifts. As such, they become newsworthy for our community, and I believe we have a responsibility to acknowledge and explore them.
In the past, we’ve covered major changes in international broadcasting — from the shutdown of Canada’s RCI Sackville site, to Australia’s complete withdrawal from shortwave, to Greece’s repeated (and eventually permanent) closure of their shortwave services. We’ve also reported on the disappearance and sometimes return of broadcasts in various regions around the world. In nearly every case, I’ve been heartened by the civil and insightful conversations these stories sparked here on the SWLing Post.
This year, however, we’ve seen a notable increase in news items that carry a heavier political weight. For instance, the recent “Bloody Saturday” shakeup in U.S. international broadcasting under the DOGE initiative caught many off guard — even critics of the agencies in question were surprised by the suddenness and execution of the changes. Since many of our readers live in the U.S. or closely follow American policy, the stakes feel especially high right now.
As a result, we’ve had to moderate more comments than usual, and in some cases, we’ve chosen to disable comments entirely on certain posts. This is never a decision we take lightly — but we do so when we feel that an external news item already has its own space for public discussion and when the likelihood of unproductive venting here outweighs constructive dialogue.
We’re not going to shy away from reporting on these important developments. In fact, to ignore them would be to make a political decision in itself.
Instead, our goal is to present information as clearly and objectively as we can, linking to sources that provide both context and multiple perspectives. While it may be impossible to find purely objective news sources, we do our best to choose reporting that is fair and fact-based.
With that in mind, I kindly ask that when you comment on these types of posts, you do so with respect for others — even (and especially) when you disagree.
Share your viewpoint, provide evidence where you can, and aim to add to the conversation.
Refrain from name-calling, personal attacks, or using the comment space as a venue to vent political frustrations. We have five trusted moderators who review comments daily, and they may choose to remove inappropriate remarks or close comments altogether if things get off track.
Thank you for helping us keep the SWLing Post a welcoming space for everyone — a place where thoughtful discussion, curiosity, and mutual respect still prevail. Let’s continue promoting practical actions and shared solutions that strengthen the global community of international radio listeners and broadcasters alike.
With appreciation,
Thomas
SWLing Post Editor
I illustrated it on the colophon of my book.Googling “Schonenberg,” I couldn’t figure out where it was located. Some said the Netherlands, some said Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, and one source (obviously wrong) said England.
“Wettig gedept” on the box is abbreviated Dutch for Wettig gedeponeerd “legally deposed,” which suggests “Trademark Registered” in English. Thus, I conclude that the spoons are made in the Netherlands–logical for Radio Nederland to have its prizes manufactured in its own country!
