by Mona Iskander
NARR: Local arabic-language papers line the shelves of Arab-owned shops on Steinway street in Astoria. Mohrez El-Husseini, an immigrant from Egypt, owns one these papers called "The Arabic Forum. When he started it in 1994, most of the articles were about the Arab World. Now, El-Husseini also features domestic news, and for the first time, he devotes one-third of his newspaper to US election coverage.
TAPE: HUSSEINI: BEFORE THAT THE MAIN CONCERNS WERE CLASSIC: HEALTH
INSURANCE, TAXES, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, GUNS, ETC... NOW AFTER
911 I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY HAS BECOME A
SIGNIFICANT SUBJECT WHICH THE ARAB COMMUNITY ARE LOOKING AT VERY
CAREFULLY.
NARR: He says that readers want to know how national security policies affect their lives. This is why he analyzes the policies of the candidates. Ray Hanania, founder of the National Association of Arab-American Journalists says that increased coverage of the elections will encourage the Arab community to be more aware of politics. It will also draw the attention of the larger American community.
TAPE: HANANIA **25:00 also getting americans and candidates aware that these arab publications are a great place to advertise in their campaigns and to reach arabs not just as potential terrorist havens but to look at the arab community and say hey, this is a voting bloc..
NARR: Other newspapers that write for the Arab community also address the effects of changing immigration laws and the backlashes of 911 on the community. Jim Hayek, a Syrian immigrant who runs the Brooklyn office of a newspaper called "Il Bilad" says his paper has changed as readers re-define their interests and concerns.
TAPE: HAYEK: NOW THEY FEEL LIKE AMERICAN ARABS, BEFORE THAT THEY
WERE DEALING WITH THE ISSUES AS ARAB AMERICANS.SO THAT'S THE
TRANSITION THAT'S HAPPENING NOW AND ALSO THE NEWSPAPER SHIFTED ITS
INTEREST TO DEAL WITH THESE INTERESTS OVER HERE. WHAT CONCERNS THE
COMMUNITY HERE. WHAT IS THEIR PAIN AND SUFFERING.
NARR: As many of these papers grow in circulation in other states, some publishers have plans to expand even more. Mohrez El-Husseini would like to add an English section to the "Arabic Forum."
TAPE: EL HUSSEINI: BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BECOME VERY SIGNIFICANT NOW TO HAVE A FORUM THAT BUILDS A BRIDGE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS WELL, NOT JUST TO PUBLISH SOMETHING FOR THE ARAB COMMUNITY ONLY.
NARR: By making his newspaper bi-lingual, El-Husseini also hopes to reach out to the next generation of Arab-Americans.
For Columbia Radio News, I'm Mona Iskander