Giving Voice to the Community

Residents of Karak, a small city in southern Jordan, traditionally have had little media to provide local 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 launched with the support of IREX to support an already politically active citizenry. Thanks to the dedication of scores of volunteers, students, faculty, and ordinary citizens who are committed to the success of the station, Sawt Al Karak FM celebrated its first birthday on May 31, 2010.

The commitment of the station’s staff is well represented by the confident Haniyeh, who began volunteering at the station the day it opened. “I wanted to study journalism but there was no program available,” Haniyeh explained. She spent every weekend over the next four months attending IREX-sponsored training events where she learned how to write investigative reports, conduct interviews, and approach officials.

Haniyeh began hosting Sabah Al Khair Karak (“Good Morning Karak”), a program featuring open discussion of the most important issues in the community, including controversial topics such as water shortages, teachers’ protests, and mismanagement by local officials. “At the beginning,” Haniyeh said, “It was difficult to present this program as a young woman in Karak.” Her family disapproved of her spending so much time at the station, unaccompanied by family members, and returning home late in the evening. But her show has gained the trust of the people in town, and her family has come to take great pride in her accomplishments. “Now, when they listen to me solve a problem on air or give something to the town, they have more trust in me.”

Haniyeh participates in the Jordan Media Strengthening Program, a program of USAID that works with media outlets, journalists and journalists’ associations, media regulatory bodies, universities, and NGOs to promote a sustainable and professional independent media system.

The above story is originally featured in our 2010 Annual Report. With your support, we can continue to assist people like Haniyeh to give voice to their community. Please consider making a gift online through our donation page.