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Ma'an Network’s radio programs are coordinated by staff at our central studios in Bethlehem and produced in collaboration with our member radio stations, located throughout the West Bank, and reporters based in Gaza. This partnership has strengthened links between local stations that previously worked in isolation and improved the range and quality of independent radio programming available in Palestine. A virtual private network enables joint live broadcasts across our eight network stations; together, these broadcasts reach listeners throughout the Palestinian territories and in many areas of Israel.

To facilitate cooperation and exchange between Palestinian radio professionals and broaden listener access, Ma'an will soon launch a redesigned web radio portal, including an archive of previous radio programs and live streaming content from Ma'an Network stations so that people anywhere can listen via the internet. Our initial web radio portal was launched in 2007 with support from UNESCO. The online archive will allow listeners to download programs, serving as a resource for members of the Palestinian diaspora and others interested in Palestinian radio programming.  

Ma'an produces and broadcasts participatory radio programs involving correspondents and listeners from all over Palestine. For example, two series of radio talk shows supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, Hiwarat Ma'an (“Ma'an Dialogues”) and Kadaya Ma'an (“Ma'an Issues”), tackled critical social, economic, and political issues using investigative reports, interviews with public figures, and a live call-in line for listener questions. Addressing topics ranging from municipal services, to workers’ rights, to the humanitarian and political situation in the Gaza Strip, these programs allowed Palestinians from diverse locales to engage in dialogue and question government officials and civil society leaders. Currently, we have a diverse radio line-up including daily news bulletins, morning programs, and talk shows, and weekly programs on sports, culture, women’s issues, and workers’ rights. Every day we broadcast six or more hours of original live programming across our network stations, and we plan to add further programs in the future.

We also broadcast special programs like quiz shows, cultural programs, and seasonal programs, for example during Ramadan. Our 2009 Ramadan radio quiz shows, From Here and There and The Ma'an Ramadan Riddle, proved extremely popular with listeners all over Palestine, and we plan to broadcast similar live competitions in the future.

In a situation of ongoing occupation and movement restrictions, readily accessible media are critical to connect communities separated by politics and circumstance. Radio reaches a broad cross-section of the Palestinian population, including people at work, in cars, or in remote locations without access to television, and the widespread availability of mobile phones means that people can easily participate in on-air discussions through listener call-ins. By facilitating co-productions and simultaneous broadcasts between independent local radio stations, Ma'an Network is moving public debate and citizen participation via the medium of radio to the national level.

Ma'an believes that radio programming can be as informative, dynamic and innovative as television. In partnership with our network stations, we will continue to provide the Palestinian community with a diverse array of radio programs, a vibrant on-air discussion forum, and a chance to hold decision-makers to account through investigative reports, radio features, and high-quality talk shows.

For more information on Ma'an Network radio productions, please visit Projects to read about our different radio projects.

Main Office, Bethlehem

  Al-Majd Building, 4th floor
  Al-Karkafa Street, Bethlehem
   Tel: 2760085/6
   Fax: 2760088

        (c) 2010 Maan Network