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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Hanania named weekday morning radio talk show host on WJJG in Chicago

Hanania named to host weekday morning radio talk show on WJJG Radio

(Orland Park/Sept. 5, 2008) – Orland Park resident and journalist Ray Hanania was named this week as the morning talk show host on WJJG AM 1530.

An award winning journalist who covered Chicago City Hall from 1977 until 1992, and hosted a radio show on WLS AM radio, will host the show weekday mornings, Monday through Friday, beginning every morning at 8 AM.

Hanania said he expects the show to expand in the near future.

“Mornings with Ray Hanania” will feature interviews and discussions with listeners on every topic in the news. Hanania will also emphasize local Southwest suburban news and issues in the show along with regional, national and international guests.

“I am a big believer in community news, community newspapers and community reporting and one important aspect of the show will be inclusion of community perspectives and news in our discussion,” Hanania said.

“I want people in Bollingbrook to learn about some of the events in Orland Park, for example, and for the people in Orland Park to engage people in other communities on issues that are local but that cross suburban boundaries. Suburban communities face common challenges and even though the details might be different, they are the same and sharing and discussing is important.”

Hanania is the winner of three Society of Professional Journalism Lisagor awards and was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist in America” by the New America Media in November 2006. He also has awards from UPI and two Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild.

The radio show will be broadcast live on the internet off his web page at www.RadioChicagoland.com. Hanania is also a columnist with the Southwest News-Herald newspaper, and with the HuffingtonPost.com. His columns also appear in news blogs and newspaper around the world.

“People love me. People hate me. People read my columns. Now you can listen to me and engage in a discussion about today’s top issues and topics. It won’t be me talking down to people like on most other radio shows. I want people to call and share their views on issues and topics,” Hanania said.

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Society of Professional Journalists National Arab American Journalists Association join forces

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007
Contact:
Clint Brewer, President. (615) 301-9229, cbrewer@spj.org
Beth King, Communications Manager, (317) 927-8000, ext. 211, bking@spj.org
For Immediate Release:
Society of Professional Journalists,
National Arab American Journalists Association join forces

INDIANAPOLIS – One of the nation’s oldest journalism-advocacy organizations and the country’s largest professional association for Arab-American journalists have joined to form a special membership group within the Society of Professional Journalists.

By providing tips, resources, training, mentoring and related discussion, SPJ and the National Arab American Journalists Association (NAAJA) will work together to develop a dialogue that is sure to encourage newsroom diversity, crossover memberships and a greater understanding of cultures within the profession.

“This is the first step in a renewed effort by SPJ to reach out to all journalists across different cultures and media,” SPJ National President Clint Brewer said. “SPJ wants to foster and atmosphere in the organization where all journalists are welcomed and find value in being a member.”

The concept of membership sections was introduced in 2006 by the Society’s national Board of Directors as a way of furthering member benefits in SPJ. With these special sections, members would be able to connect and interact regularly at professional levels, regardless of the medium in which they work. In early 2007, Ray Hanania, president of NAAJA, submitted a proposal for consideration to form the first membership section with the Society that would attract Arab Americans who work in journalism or who are journalism students. In May, the board voted to create the Arab American membership section within the Society. The blog "Al-Sahafiyeen," meaning “the journalists” was launched Oct. 15 on SPJ.org.

“Our goal in pursuing this is to provide a professional resource where Arab Americans can find guidance as they pursue careers in journalism,” Hanania said. “And when it comes to professional journalism, no other organization offers more resources and support than the SPJ. We also hope the new SPJ-Arab Journalism Section will serve as a resource for all journalists on issues related to Arab Americans and the Middle East.”

Membership into the Arab-American section is open to any SPJ member who pays an additional $10 per year to their national dues. The money raised will go toward grants for programs related to Arab-American journalism issues.

The NAAJA was launched in 1999 to help professional Arab-Americans journalists network. It has hosted four journalism conferences and has more than 150 members nationally.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For further information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org .

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