News Story: Radio Baladi making new strides for American Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern news media

Radio Baladi, Live Arab American Radio to Connect Listeners in Michigan, Northern Ohio, Northern Illionis and Windsor.
By: Adel A. Mozip

Radio Baladi, a new creative way of connecting listeners across three states and Windosr, Canada, was an idea of two Arab American journalists, one in Detroit, MI and the other in Chicago, Illinois. The two journalists, Ray Hanania and Laila Alhussini launched Radio Baladi on the 12th of February to broadcoast to liseners every Friday at 8:00 am via 690 AM WNZK radio in Southfield, Michigan and 7 am WJJG 1530 AM in Chicago, Illinois.

“We are trying to demonstrate, by linking our stations, that we shouldn’t be ignored,” Hanania said. “We want them to know that we are doing our best to serve as a communications network with our community.”

Hanania hosts "Morning With Ray" on WJJG every weekday on 1530 AM Chicago. He also writes for the Jerusalem Post and a Palestinian online news site, PalestineNote.com. Hanania also has 12 years’ experience with radio in the Chicago area. Laila Alhussini, hosts her morning show, "Good Morning Show" on 690 AM.

“Radio Baladi opens the dialogue between Arab Americans and other Americans from other cultures. There is a huge misunderstanding between Muslims, Arabs and non-Arabs and non-Muslims and through this talk show, we're aiming to clear this misunderstanding." Alhussini added.

Over the last four broadcoasts in February and first in March, Radio Baladi has discussed many issues that are of interest to Arab Americans. The talk show brought experts to discuss these issues while engaging listeners to ask questions and voice their opinions on air. The issues discussed on the radio show ranged from the Hijab ban lawsuit against Judge William Callahan, to full body scanners to mainstrame media coverage on issues with relation to Arabs and Muslims. Last Friday, the talk show discussed the misconceptions of Arabs and Muslims in the American society as well as the misunderstanding between Arabs and Americans.

Radio Baladi is foreseeing success in its broadcoast and is looking forward to expand. The hosts are considering expanding the simultaneous broadcast to the Washington D.C. in the near future.

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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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