Radio Netherlands Worldwide is launching an Arabic radio programme called 'Huna Amsterdam' (This is Amsterdam calling). The Arabic department is venturing into a thick jungle of satellite and radio stations with its programme of daily news and current affairs. Nevertheless, Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) believes it has something to add to the media landscape.
The Arabic media landscape has changed considerably since the 1990s. Government-controlled state radio and television has made way for hundreds of border-crossing satellite stations such as al Jazeera and al Arabiyya: an enormous boost for press freedom in the Middle East. Nevertheless, these satellite stations are also struggling with the limitations placed on press freedom and the need for self-censorship, as they are often financed by Arab governments.
| Huna Amsterdam will be targeting the whole of the Middle East and the Maghreb, with an emphasis on Morocco, the Palestinian territories and Iraq. The programme will be broadcasting regional news, analyses and features, as well as content from the Netherlands and Europe and reports from migrant communities. |
| Listen RNW will broadcast the radio programme during the evening hours via shortwave, satellite, podcasts and audio streams on www.rnw.nl/hunaamsterdam. RNW will soon be adding broadcasts on mediumwave and via FM partners, who will take over parts of the programme. |
Fourteen years ago, the emergence of satellite stations was the reason why RNW ended its shortwave radio broadcasts in Arabic. Now, RNW sees new opportunities, via the Internet, satellite, shortwave, mediumwave and FM.
There is a demand for independent, reliable news and analysis of events in this region. Radio Netherlands Worldwide's Arabic department will provide these using experts in the Western and Arabic worlds as well as the expertise that exists within its own editorial team. The 12 journalists in the team are from Morocco, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Algeria, Libya, Sudan and the Netherlands.
Moderate voice
In the current era of polarisation between the Arabic and Western worlds, it seems to be mainly the radical and populist voices on both sides that are heard.
As a result, the void between the Arabic and Western worlds is getting wider. RNW wants to create room for a moderate voice on both sides.
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Radio Netherlands Worldwide Director-General Jan Hoek:"More than ever the two worlds seem to be talking simultaneously and at cross purposes, rather than with each other. The Arabic world is clearly in need of an independent moderate (Muslim) sound, one which encourages dialogue." For this reason, a platform is being provided for debate in radio broadcasts from Hilversum and also on the website, in which the emphasis is on moderate views.
The editorial team hopes this will help close the gap between the Arabic and Western world.
Migrants
In addition, plenty of attention is paid to the Netherlands in the Middle East and the Maghreb region (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), partly because of the large groups of Arabic-speaking migrants and the Dutch debate on Islam.
Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, emotions in this polarised world have often flared up, and still do. Using features, analyses and columns, RNW's editorial team wants to report the public debate as clearly as possible and put it into context.
Here are the options for reception:
Iraq and the Gulf States: Mon-Fri 1900-2000 UTC on 11830 kHz.
Other Middle East states: Daily 2000-2100 UTC on 7385 kHz.
North Africa: Mon-Fri 2200-2300 UTC on 5970 kHz.
The Arabic satellite channel Sawt Al Alam on Eutelsat Hotbird, Arabsat BADR4 and Nilesat 101: Daily 1900-2000 and 2200-2300 UTC.
* RNW translation (nc)
Tags: al Arabiyya, al Jazeera, Arabic media, Huna Amsterdam, International broadcasting, Jan Hoek