American Arab radio talk shows link shows in unprecedented national syndication

Chicago radio host Ray Hanania and Dearborn radio host Laila alHusinni Friday linked their two radio shows creating an American Arab and American Muslim first, bringing Arabs, Middle Easterners and mainstream Americans together to discuss Middle East issues in one regional forum.

Hanania. an award winning journalist and columnist with both the Israeli Jerusalem Post newspaper and the leading Palestinian online news site, PalestineNote.com, is the host of Radio Chicagoland which broadcasts from 8 until 9:30 am (Central) Monday thru Thursday and 7 to 9 am on Fridays on WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

AlHusinni is an accomplished Dearborn based journalist who has hosted Good Morning Michigan Monday, Wednesday thru Friday from 8 until 9 am (Eastern) on WNZK 690 AM Radio for more than five years.

The two professional journalists have combined their Friday morning shows (7 am in Chicago and 8 am in Dearborn) to broadcast one hour dedicated solely to Middle East and Arab issues. The radio program is called "Radio Baladi." (www.RadioBaladi.com)

Hanania is a Christian Palestinian whose family originates in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. AlHusinni is from Syria, living in the United States more than a decade.

The first show was broadcast on Friday Feb. 12, 2010, and featured a discussion with CAIR Attorney Lena Masri on the issue of Muslim women rights and the hijab. The second segment featured Khaled Almaeena the editor-in-chief of the Riyadh-based Arab News Newspaper, the leading English language newspaper in the Middle East.

Callers to the show originated in Chicago and its suburbs, Dearborn, Windsor Canada, Orlando Florida and Massachusetts.

"The Arab World has failed to properly understand the power of real, professional journalism and professional communications," said Hanania who was named Best Ethnic American Columnist by the New America Media.

"Too often even the best American Arab newspapers are little more than propaganda tools that spout off politics. This partisan activism is transparent to the majority of mainstream Americans and the writing is often ignored or only reaches an Arab or Muslim activism community. Radio Baladi is a professional journalism effort. There are no sacred cows and the truth is what will drive our program. We will not protect nor advance political agendas. We will be open to everyone and hear everyone's views because that is how Americans will come to understand, appreciate and eventually support the just cause of the Arab people."

AlHusinni, who is recognized for her journalism work in Dearborn, agreed saying, "We want to hear all sides. We are not pushing any agenda or political view. We have our opinions but we are open to everyone's opinions, even if we do not agree. By airing everyone's opinions, our audience will be free and will be able to come to conclusions about what is true, what is fair and what is justice."

The show is already receiving rave reviews from Arab community leaders and newspaper around the country.

Newspapers that wish to "partner" with Radio Baladi can publish our advertisement in their publications and in exchange the newspapers and their web sites will be acknowledge at the start and the end of the show. For information on advertising, contact alHusinni at 313  -   570  -  2206.

Click HERE to listen to the first show.

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Arab/Muslim Radio shows in Chicago and Dearborn link for simulcast broadcasts starting Friday Feb. 12

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         Laila alhusinni

Feb. 2, 2009                                                                                        313-570-2206

                                                                                                            Ray Hanania

                                                                                                            312-933-9855

Arab/Muslim Radio talk show hosts combine broadcasts to link Arab, Muslim
and mainstream audiences in Dearborn, Chicago, Michigan, Illinois & Windsor Canada 

Chicago/Dearborn – Radio talk show hosts Laila alhusinni in Dearborn and Ray Hanania in Chicago announced they will be combine their weekday radio shows to create one simulcast every Friday to link audiences in both cities and regions.

alHusinni is the host of “Good Morning Michigan” which broadcasts Monday, Wednesday thru Friday on WNZK 690 AM Radio in Dearborn throughout Michigan from 8 to 9 am Eastern time.

Hanania is the host of “Mornings with Ray Hanania” which broadcasts Monday thru Thursday on WJJG 1530 AM Radio in Chicago and Northern Illinois from 8 until 9:30 am and Friday 7 until 9 am Central time.

Both Michigan and the Chicagoland region are homes to the country’s largest concentrations of American Arabs. The two live talk radio shows will merge their Friday programs to broadcast one show, called “Radio Baladi,” to connect Arab and Muslim American listeners in both regions.

“We are very excited about this networking to bring Arab and Muslim listeners in Dearborn and the Detroit region together with Arab and Muslim listeners in Chicagoland,” said alHusinni, a Syrian Muslim American whose program is broadcast in Arabic and English.

“This has never been done before and I am proud to be working with Laila alHusinni to not only connect Arab and Muslim Americans in the Midwest  but to also help educate Americans about our mutual interests, the Middle East and Arab and Muslim heritages,” said Hanania, a Christian Palestinian American and award winning journalist who writes for a dozen newspapers around the world.

The radio shows are also broadcast live on the Internet and will be podcast on iTunes and other podcast outlets each week.

The focus of the programs will be Arab, Muslim and Middle East issues, alHusinni said.  Listeners will be encouraged to call in to either the Dearborn studio at 248-557-3300 or the Chicago studio at 708-493-1530.

The simulcast is sponsored by advertisers including PalestineNote.com, the leading online web site on Arab and Muslim issues, Ziyad Brothers Importing and ZiyadRecipes.com, one of the nation’s largest distributors of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods, and H&R Block, the nation’s leading tax preparation company.

The first broadcast begins Friday Feb. 12, 2010 at 7 am in Chicago and 8 am in Dearborn.

Born in Damascus, Syria, alhusinni graduated from The University of Damascus and worked for a number of local Syrian newspapers from 1990-2000. Laila alhusinni immigrated to the United States in 2001 and launched her show, one of the nation’s largest radio broadcast shows to Arabs and Muslim. Hanania is a veteran, award winning journalist and columnist. His columns appear in newspapers across the United States and in the Middle East. he is a columnist for PalestineNote.com, Arabisto.com and the Jerusalem Post newspaper. Hanania is the winner of three SPJ Lisagor awards and was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New America Media and is the recipient of the 2009 M.T. Mehdi Courage in Journalism award.

For more information on alHusinni, Hanania or Radio Baladi, or to listen to the live broadcast on the Internet, visit their web site at www.RadioBaladi.com.  (Baladi is the Arabic word for “homeland.”)

“Good Morning Michigan”

U.S. Arab Radio Network

Mon, Wed - Fri, 8 - 9 am

Host: Laila alHusinni

2249 Gridley Park

Dearborn, MI, 48124

STUDIO: 248-557-3300

Tel: (313) 570-2206

Fax :( 313) 768-5104

lealhusinni@yahoo.com

“Mornings with Ray Hanania”

Urban Strategies Group

Mon - Fri, 8 - 9:30 am

Host: Ray Hanania

PO Box 2127

Orland Park, IL., 60462
STUDIO: 708-493-1530

708-575-9078 eFax

rayhanania@comcast.net

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