Save

Sharq al-Adna

Covert British Radio and the Development of Arab Broadcasting

In: Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication
Author:
Anthony McNicholas University of Westminster Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), School of Media and Communication UK London

Search for other papers by Anthony McNicholas in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

$40.00

Abstract

Sharq al-Adna, or the Near East Arab Broadcasting Station, was a covert, British radio station that broadcasted in Arabic from 1941 to 1956, at first from Palestine before moving to Cyprus in 1948, where it posed as a commercial station but, in reality, was controlled by British Special Intelligence Services until the military commandeered it at the time of Suez. In the intervening fifteen years, its mainly Arab staff, loosely supervised by a small number of British personnel, broadcasted a mixture of music, drama, discussion, educational and religious programs, albeit with a subtle British slant to its news. In this article, which is based on archival sources, including the memoirs of some of those involved and some material originally published in Arabic, the author assesses the station’s contribution to British propaganda efforts in the Middle East and to the development of Arab broadcasting.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 589 83 26
Full Text Views 38 10 4
PDF Views & Downloads 95 28 10