Radio Bulgaria through the eyes of colleagues and listeners

The Radio Bulgaria team is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Bulgarian National Radio’s first broadcasts abroad. For many years, Radio Bulgaria’s mission has been to ensure that Bulgaria’s voice is heard in many languages, spanning a wide range of topics and reaching audiences across the globe. Throughout this time, the mission has enjoyed the unwavering support of Kadrinka Kadrinova, a writer and journalist, longtime chairperson of the Association of Spanish-Speaking Journalists (in the period 2003-2019), and a current member of the Council for Electronic Media.

Her message of congratulations is sincere and warm, and expresses optimism about the enduring importance of free and objective journalism:

“Special congratulations to all colleagues at the National Radio, and especially at Radio Bulgaria – with my warmest wishes! May you continue your excellent work, maintain the highest professional standards, and stay attuned to the pulse of public life, which is often turbulent, particularly in times like these.

Radio Bulgaria carries particular weight and significance today, because it is vital that Bulgaria’s voice is heard in this troubled world, including by our compatriots abroad. I hope your voice will be heard not only by fellow Bulgarians, but by everyone, because you are truly the voice of Bulgaria that should resonate around the world. So congratulations – remain as dedicated as ever and keep going!”

Indeed, the voice of the Bulgarian National Radio’s programme for international audiences can be heard across Europe, Asia and the Americas. This is evident from the letters received from listeners and radio enthusiasts, who are keen to share what they have learned from Radio Bulgaria’s foreign-language broadcasts and publications.

“I enjoy listening to your programmes and reading information about Bulgaria on your website. I have learned a great deal about your beautiful country, but I would like to learn much more, so I will continue to listen and read,” wrote Ralph Urbanczyk from Germany. Thanks to the ‘Song of the Day’ feature in the weekday programme ‘Bulgaria Today’, he even discovered a favourite Bulgarian band: Mary Boys Band.

“The performers featured as your ‘Song of the Day’ truly make wonderful music. ‘Colorful Landscape’ was a title I immediately liked. I first heard about this excellent band on your programmes a few years ago. Since then, the music of Mary Boys Band has grown on me more and more. I now actively look for their albums, even beyond Radio Bulgaria’s broadcasts. Thank you for introducing me to the rich variety of Bulgarian music through your programmes.”

• Radio Bulgaria draws a true map of Bulgaria on the world map

Zlatko Zhelev, who runs BNR’s digital side, is a fan too. He points out that the team doesn't just post stories—they craft them. Whether it’s a deep-dive interview or a photo that hits you in the gut, he says the goal is always the same: making sure the audience truly feels the story.

“You have wonderful authors who write in a distinctive way – authors who tell the stories of Bulgarians, both well known and lesser known, always seeking to connect with the audience and with our compatriots abroad. You do it beautifully, with plenty of photographs and interviews, and sometimes by incorporating video, which I personally greatly admire. The experience should be complete: the text should touch the soul; the photographs should give you goosebumps; and the video should evoke a different kind of emotion.”

• What was Sofia Airport renamed? - A radio club in India hosts a quiz on Bulgaria and the BNR

“I can always learn many new and interesting things about Bulgaria when I browse your website. Thank you for this excellent information,’ wrote Jahangir Alam from Bangladesh.

“Your English-language programmes are a wonderful source of entertainment as well as information,' wrote another listener, Malik Allah Khokhar from Pakistan. - I always find your broadcasts very informative, interesting, and rich in knowledge. Through your station, I remain well informed about world affairs, updated international news, and current events taking place across different regions of the globe. Your news and current affairs segments are particularly impressive as they are presented in such a clear, balanced and professional manner.”

• Chrissy Brand from Great Britain: I’ve been listening to Radio Bulgaria for decades

Helmut Matt from Germany, a long-time listener of Radio Bulgaria’s German-language programmes, has called for the return of shortwave broadcasting in today’s digital age:

“Although Radio Bulgaria no longer broadcasts on shortwave, you produced a truly excellent programme. In many countries, international broadcasting has been discontinued – supposedly to save money. I believe that ending international radio services means that people learn less and less about the life, thinking and culture of other nations.”

• Helmut Matt: Radio Bulgaria is a bridge between Bulgaria, literature and the airwaves

Resuming international shortwave broadcasts would not be particularly costly for BNR, suggests Vincent Marie from Spain, who has been tuning in for 50 years. “For shortwave enthusiasts, new technologies are excellent, but shortwave is a direct signal from one country to another, without intermediaries who can interrupt it whenever they wish. Now that the powerful transmitters have been shut down, it turns out that even low-power signals can travel remarkably far.”

Radio Bulgaria also keeps in touch with radio enthusiasts around the world through the QSL cards it sends in reply to reception reports from listeners who have successfully picked up its signal.

• Our new QSL cards: 90 years BNR and 90 years Radio Bulgaria

“I am glad to hear that Radio Bulgaria continues to send QSL cards. Of course, that is not the main reason we listen to the programmes, but it remains a valued tradition,” wrote Jean-Michel Aubier from France, who has been listening to the station’s shortwave broadcasts since 1979.

Further reading:

• Radio Bulgaria’s English Service: A legacy of distinguished voices
• Bulgarian schools abroad share student-made video lessons for Radio Bulgaria’s 90th anniversary
• Antoaneta Radoslavova: The Radio remembers its people and voices

Editor: E. Karkalanova