Middle East Broadcasting Networks

Middle East Broadcasting Networks
AbbreviationMBN
FormationFebruary 14, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-02-14)
Type501(c)3 organization
42-1591205
HeadquartersNewington, Virginia
SubsidiariesAlhurra, Radio Sawa
Budget
Funded by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees all U.S. Government funded foreign broadcasts.
Websitewww.usagm.gov/networks/mbn/ Edit this at Wikidata
RemarksAvailable in 22 countries and territories across the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is a U.S.-government-funded American Arabic-language non-profit media organization broadcasting news and information across the Middle East and North Africa region.[1]

MBN comprises two television networks, (Alhurra and Alhurra-Iraq), Radio Sawa, and several digital properties (Alhurra.com, RadioSawa.com, Irfaasawtak.com, MaghrebVoices.com, and Elsaha.com). MBN is financed by the U.S. government through a grant from the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent federal agency that serves as a firewall to protect journalists from political influence. Including MBN, there are four other networks under the USAGM umbrella: Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio y Television Marti, and Radio Free Asia. Former U.S. diplomat, Ambassador Alberto Fernandez was appointed as head of MBN in 2017.[2][3][4] On November 4, 2018, MBN relaunched and introduced innovative new programming across all platforms.[5][6]

MBN's mission is to provide accurate and objective information on the MENA region, American policies, and Americana, as well as in-depth analysis focusing on topics not found in other Arab media outlets to encourage transparency and democracy.[7] After airing an investigative report alleging corruption within Iraq's Sunni and Shiite religious establishments, Iraqi authorities suspended the license of MBN's Alhurra television channel for three months.[8][9]

  1. ^ "The Image War". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  2. ^ "America Talks to the Middle East an Interview with MBN's Alberto Fernandez". Providence. 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  3. ^ "Arabic TV station Al Hurra should have rivalled Al Jazeera, but has yet to find its voice". The National. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  4. ^ Eggerton, John (13 June 2017). "Alberto Fernandez Named Head of BBG Middle East Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  5. ^ "Relaunched Alhurra TV to challenge extremists, conspiracy theorists | AW staff". AW. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  6. ^ "Reporting from Afrin amid the Turkish offensive – Middle East – Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  7. ^ "Live from Virginia, It's Alhurra". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  8. ^ "Iraq suspends US-funded TV station for 3 months over program". AP NEWS. 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  9. ^ "Iraq suspends Alhurra, a U.S.-funded TV station, after alleging corruption in report". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2019-09-25.