Expanding Community Radio in Jordan: Karak’s New Voice

Residents of Karak, in southern Jordan, have had little local media to provide news and information. Now, however, they hear the sounds of Sawt Al-Karak FM (the Voice of Karak), a new community radio station at Mutah University. Sawt Al-Karak includes a radio production unit at the Princess Basma Youth Resources Center at the university, where HRH Princess Basma bin Talal and US Ambassador to Jordan Robert Stephen Beecroft helped recognize the student trainees and others who have contributed to the station’s early success. University students and citizens–38 in all–are being trained on producing programs, broadcasting, and media ethics.Karak radio launch photos

In an effort to support local governance and sustainable development and to encourage an already politically active citizenry, the station was launched with the support of IREX. The university and IREX aim to encourage citizen participation and greater access to information with this new station, which will draw on the university’s Youth Resource Center for a built-in cadre of volunteers. As the only state university without a radio station, Mutah University officials also wanted to capitalize on the opportunity to build a station and provide a service to the community.

Community radio can play a key role in local life, particularly as Jordanian government officials recently announced a plan to decentralize local governance to provide citizens with enhanced opportunities for participation in decision-making processes. Many Karak residents leave the village for Amman in search of greater economic opportunities. With more attention focused on this governorate and enhanced opportunities for civic empowerment, its residents may feel more motivated to pursue development goals at home.

“Women in our governorates have always had a leading role in the process of change,” Princess Basma said at the May 31 launch for the station. She added that the station provides a “valuable opportunity” for more women to be engaged in the media sector.

Mutah University President Dr Abdelrahim Hunaiti said Sawt Al-Karak would spread “a developmental culture that leads into positive change and transforms the traditional cultural trends that oppose human development in general.” Ambassador Beecroft said he hopes the station will “bring local officials closer to their constituencies and enhance pluralism, accountability, and freedom of expression.”

A team of trainers and volunteers established the station’s first programming cycle with programs that reflect local community issues. Student Mohammad Albtowsh hosts a morning show called Jami’ati (“My university”), which tackles students concerns and connects students with university services. Another volunteer, Firas Bashir, hosts Hawalena qissas (Stories around us), a program featuring investigative reports on disabled people and how many of them are role models. A live interactive daily morning show also draws a large local audience to interact with officials about their concerns.

Du’a Qatawneh, a student studying agriculture, serves as the program’s host and interviews experts who discuss farmers’ concerns and provide advice about the industry “[The program] Ardna Altayiba (Our good land) gave me the chance to interact with guests based on my academic knowledge and acquaintance with my city,” he said.

Princess Basma congratulates a traineeCore groups of volunteers will train others to guarantee constant flow of high quality programming by volunteers. IREX is coordinating with other USAID-funded projects to help volunteers produce content that brings together local media and civil society especially on issues such as gender and disabilities that are not as well covered in traditional media.

A week after the launch ceremony, several Karak small businesses donated gifts and supplies to the station. Representatives from the university and the Princess Basma Youth Resource Center will form a board of directors to manage the station along with members of the local community. Additionally, Sawt Al Karak joined the Jordan News Syndicate–another IREX-supported project—which consists of six local radio stations exchanging nationwide news and reports.

This initiative is part of the USAID-funded Jordan Media Strengthening Program (JMSP), implemented by IREX, and works with media outlets, training institutes, journalism faculties, and media NGOs to improve the professionalism and sustainability of the Jordanian media sector.