Man Push Cart – An Interview with Ahmad Razvi * Hosts: Hina Bayat
* Original Airdate: May 2009
On this program, Hina interviews Actor Ahmad Razvi, the Pakistani-American whose first film was an independent film directed by Ramin Bahrani, “Man Push Cart.” This film won awards at the Seattle Film Festival, London Film Festival, and was an official selection in the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. Razvi was also nominated for the Independent Sprit Awards. The film is the story of a former rock star in Pakistan who moves to New York and is struggling to survive as a push cart vendor.
This show includes a brief interview with the push cart vendor who Razvi studied from in preparing for the film, and an interview with Ahmad Razvi and his father at CoPo, The Council of People’s Organization in the “Little Pakistan” neighborhood of Brooklyn. Razvi’s father, Mohammad Razvi, founded the non-profit in 2002 in the after-math of 9/11 to bring together the diverse communities of his Brooklyn neighborhood through various interfaith and multi-cultural programs, and to provide services to assist low income South Asian families.
Report on the New Afghanistan Strategy – Interview with Defense Secretary Robert Gates & General David Grange
* Hosts: Sear Zia
* Original Airdate: Apr 2009
This web excerpt from an episode of PUL features AAM journalism fellow Sear Zia's exclusive interview with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Brigadeer General David Grange (retired).
Secretary Gates speaks about the Obama administration's strategy shift in Afghanistan, including a new approach to battling the opium trade, the role of Pakistan in combating extremism and US concerns over Afghan civilian casualties. General Grange shares his insights on military and economic strategy that is vital to success in Afghanistan.
The Role of Media in the US and the Middle East – A Discussion on How Media Shapes Public Opinion
* Hosts: Rasha Serry
* Original Airdate: May 2009
A discussion on the role, responsibility, and evolution of the media both in the US and the Arab world with Marvin Kalb, whose 30 year career includes award-winning reporting at CBS and NBC News as Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Moscow Bureau Chief, and host of "Meet the Press" and Richard Eisendorf, a specialist in international media and peace building at Freedom House, with over 15 years experience in the Middle East.
* The program opens in Arabic, then continues in English
Al-Iraqiya in Washington – US Policy in Iraq Under President Obama
* Host: Kareem Hamadi, Al-Iraqiya
* Original Airdate: Feb 2009
Iraqi elections recently took place in what was viewed as successful progress towards democracy. Barack Obama made a campaign promise to have the American military out of Iraq sixteen months after he takes office. Obama supports "responsible withdrawl" from Iraq but does not want to see a return to violence or see the nascent Iraqi democracy fail during his administration. Kareem Hamadi of Al-Iraqiya leads a discussion with leading policy experts on what to expect in US policy in Iraq over the next four years.
Guests include: Steve Biddle, Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; Kenneth Pollack, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; and Samir Sumaida'ie, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States.
Interview with Salman Ahmad – Bridging the divide between the US and the Muslim world through his music
* Host: Amer Smadi, Jordan TV
* Original Airdate: Nov 2008
Ahmad is the popular guitarist and composer of the popular South Asian rock group, Junoon. Ahmad is also a goodwill ambassador for the UN, acting as the US national spokesperson in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He is also on the board of directors of Breakthrough, an international human rights organization that uses education and popular culture to promote values of dignity, equality, and justice.
Ahmad has produced two documentary films. The Rock Star and the Mullahs tracks Ahmad's visit to the northern Pakistani town of Peshawar, where he directly challenges the local Muslim clergy who have banned all forms of music. His most recent film, Muslims in America: It's My Country Too, uncovers the authentic spirit of American Muslims and their experience wrestling with the personal and social consequences of the 9/11 attacks.
The Next President – Barack Obama and America's Image in the Muslim World
* Host: Muntaha Al-Ramahi, Al-Arabiya
* Original Airdate: Nov 2008
Muntaha Al-Ramahi, one of Al-Arabiya's leading anchors and host of the daily, prime time talk show "Panorama" (which has been called one of the most important news programs on Arab television) discusses with her guests what the repercussions of an Obama presidency might be in the Arab world and whether this will provoke real change in America's foreign policly towards that part of the world.
Guests include: Robert Reilly, Senior Fellow for Strategic Communications at the American Foreign Policy Council and former director of Voice of America, Dr. Edmund Ghareeb, Professor of Comparative and Regional Studies at American University’s School of International Service, Zainab al-Suwaij, Executive Director of the American Islamic Congress.
America's Funniest Muslim – Muslim Life in America… with a Sense of Humor * Host: Mithat Bereket, CNN Turk
* Original Airdate: Feb 2008
America Abroad Media hosted a televised town hall discussion with Azhar Usman, a Muslim-American comedian, lecturer, and community activist who gained fame through his work with the Muslim comedy troupe "Allah Made me Funny." Moderated by CNN Turk's leading anchor Mithat Bereket, the audience of students and community members enjoyed some stand up comedy along with thought-provoking discussion about Muslim life in America, mis- perceptions of the US and the Muslim world, and the art of comedy as a tool to improve understanding between cultures.
This town hall was part of Mithat Bereket's Journalism Fellowship Program, for which he hosted a series of special programs from Washington and New York produced by America Abroad Media. "America's Funniest Muslim" aired twice in prime time on CNN Turk and received overwhelmingly postiive feedback from the viewers.
