Rashid Public Radio Station On the Air

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams, USA

[SandRat]

Ali al-Shati, director of programming for the Jamaheer Radio Station, cues audio from pre-recorded radio programs during a broadcast from the Rashid District Council Hall building in the Doura community of southern Baghdad, Feb. 18, 2009. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs.

FOB FALCON — U.S. Soldiers joined local community leaders to officially recognize the opening of a new public information radio station in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, Feb. 18.

The Jamaheer Radio Station, located in the Rashid District Council Hall in the Doura community, is an important achievement for the district leadership and benefits Iraqi citizens of southern Baghdad, said Hashem Mahmood Dahash, deputy chairman of the Rashid District Council.

“We know the needs of the people. It is important for our people … this Al-Jamaheer Radio Station is important to educate the people.”

The local leadership held the commemoration to draw attention to the newest addition and inform the citizens of Rashid of the new radio programming, said Maj. Felix Acosta, governance officer, working with the 1st Brigade Combat Team’s Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The public information radio station is controlled and operated by the Rashid District Council to provide listeners information about local government initiatives and opportunities within the local communities in southern Baghdad, said Acosta, a civil affairs officer, assigned to the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion.

“This radio station exists to spread the news as far as reconstruction efforts, civic events and political objectives being sought to meet the needs of the people of Rashid,” said Acosta, who hails from Philadelphia.

Based on the success of the programming, the station could be picked up by local media organizations for greater funding and a larger audience, he said.

The radio station became a project in late August of 2008 with a request by District Council leaders to help restore a sense of normalcy by providing public information to the approximately 1.6 million people of Rashid.

The radio station’s staff works hand-in-hand with the Rashid District Council media committee to conduct interviews with various community and business leaders and advisors and provides the Iraqi people a medium to contact their representatives and share their views.

“The public has to be aware of all the efforts going on in the Rashid district,” Acosta said. “The people out there are out there doing their job, but unless that plan is shared with the people, they think that no one is trying to work on their behalf or there is no plan.”

The “politically neutral” station also offers a variety of programs to engage the people and build the culture, which will eventually foster the development and expansion of the independent radio station, said Acosta.

“It builds hope for the future, provides information to get health and medical treatment, or educational opportunities,” he said. “This radio station is a necessity for the future and encourages leaders to find initiatives for their communities.”

The Jamaheer Radio Station airs programming from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily, offering education, music, entertainment, religion and open-talk forums and programs for the residents of southern Baghdad.

“If we succeed in our job in the radio, the listeners feel happy; then I can ensure that this radio station will be successful,” said Saad, who has experience working as a presenter for Iraq’s “Voice of the Public” radio program in 1985.

[SandRat]

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