Samir Murtada, Journal of Media and Communication, Issue 119 — Jumada I 1429 AH / May 2008
In 1371 AH, Saudi Radio issued a small monthly pocket‑sized booklet containing the station’s monthly program schedule. This booklet was published in several languages, including Urdu and Malay, and was printed at Al‑Bilad Al‑Saudiyyah Press in Mecca. It continued to be issued for four years until it ceased publication in 1375 AH, a halt that effectively paved the way for the launch of Majallat al‑Idha‘a (The Radio Magazine).
In accordance with Royal Decree No. 7/3/16/1007, dated 17 Jumada II 1374 AH, which stipulated in Article Six the right of the Radio to publish its own magazine, the first issue of Majallat al‑Idha‘a was released by the General Directorate of Radio, Press, and Publishing in Jeddah in Rabi‘ II 1375 AH. Beginning with the fourth issue, its title became “Saudi Radio”, and with the advent of television, its name changed again—starting with issue 124 (Rajab 1385 AH)—to “Radio and Television Magazine.”
This monthly publication featured program schedules for local and international broadcasts in Indonesian and Urdu, along with coverage of activities within the radio’s studios, news relevant to listeners, and a variety of cultural, artistic, sports, and social materials.
The First Issue
The cover of the inaugural issue displayed an illustration of a transmission tower facing a microphone. The tower formed the Arabic letters alif and lam of the word “al‑Saudiyyah”, while the word “al‑Idha‘a” appeared to the right. Radio‑wave symbols encircled the microphone, representing the pulse and dynamism of broadcasting.
At the center of the cover, a wide rectangular box read:
“Rabi‘ II, 1375 — Issue No. 1 — Year One.”
Below it, a vertical box listed the contents:
- A Salute to Those Who Made Our History
- The Muhammadan Message
- From Our History (The Companions of the Elephant)
- Cities of Knowledge
- Memories
- Let Us Walk…
- The Moroccan Sheikh (Story)
- From the Inspiration of the Prophet’s Birth (Poetry)
- Pleasing People Is an Impossible Goal
- Radio Programs in Arabic, Urdu, and Indonesian
The price was listed as one Saudi riyal, though it appears that beginning with the second issue it was reduced to half a riyal.
At the bottom of the cover, in small print, appeared:
“Printing, Press, and Publishing Corporation — Jeddah,”
the entity responsible for printing the magazine before the task later moved to Dar al‑Asfahani Press.
Editorial Note
The second page carried a formal dedication:
“In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
The General Directorate of Radio, Press, and Publishing is honored to present the magazine ‘Saudi Radio’ to His Majesty the King, and thereafter to all Arab and Islamic peoples.
It is pleased that this presentation coincides with the anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the Saudi throne on 26 Rabi‘ I 1375 (12 November 1955).
May God prolong his life and guide the kings and presidents of Arab and Islamic nations to what He loves and approves.”
Beneath this message, in a black banner spanning the page:
“Saudi Radio — Published by the General Directorate of Radio, Press, and Publishing
Editor‑in‑Chief: Fahd Ismail Al‑Abbasi.”
Sources indicate that this was the first and last time the editor‑in‑chief’s name appeared in the magazine.
Editorial Team and Contributors
Among those known to have supervised the magazine’s editorial work were:
Hamza Bughari, Sulayman al‑Abdallah al‑Qadi, Hasan Ash‘ari, Hashim ‘Azzuz, Abdullah al‑Husayn, Ghalib Hamza Abu al‑Faraj, Abdulghani ‘Atri, and Nabih al‑Ansari, who contributed from the very first issue.
The magazine was printed in color, initially in 50 pages, later 64 pages, first by the Printing and Publishing Corporation, then by Dar al‑Asfahani Press. The subscription fee was 6 riyals, and the price per issue half a riyal.
Notably, caricature art first appeared in Saudi journalism through this magazine, specifically in issue no. 15. Although Majallat al‑Riyadh, published by Ahmad Ubayd in Jeddah in 1374 AH, had included caricatures, they were reprints from Egyptian newspapers.
Cessation of Publication
There is disagreement regarding the date of the magazine’s discontinuation, likely due to irregular publication.
- Othman Hafiz states it ended in 1387 AH.
- Al‑Shubayli suggests 1386 AH.
- Other references mention 1388 AH.
- Muhammad Abdulrazzaq Al‑Qush‘ami reports that the last issue he found was issue 127, dated Shawwal 1385 AH.
Prominent Writers
A distinguished group of Saudi writers and intellectuals contributed to the magazine, including:
Ahmad Ibrahim Ghazawi, Ahmad Muhammad Jamal, Husayn Sarhan, Hamza Bughari (who also served as editor‑in‑chief and translated foreign stories), Ahmad Zaki Yamani, Zayd bin Fayyad, Shakib al‑Awwami, Abbas Faiq Ghazawi, Abdulsalam Hafiz, Abdulaziz al‑Rifai, Abdulkarim Niazi (author of the column “Between the Magazines”), Abdullah al‑Husayn, Abdullah ‘Araf, Fuad Shakir, Dr. Muhammad Sa‘id al‑Awadi, Muhammad Husayn Zaydan, Muhammad Sa‘id al‑‘Amudi, Muhammad Abdulqadir ‘Alaqi, Muhammad Umar Tawfiq, Muhammad Abdullah Mulaybari, Muhammad Hashim Rashid, Hashim ‘Azzuz, Yasin Taha (author of the column “Broadcast Conversations”), Abdulrahman Sulayman (deputy editor‑in‑chief), Ibrahim al‑Shura, Aziz Diyya, ‘Isam Khawqir, and Madiha Khazindar, who supervised the women’s page.
Context in the Arab World
This type of publication was not new in the Arab world. Similar magazines had long been issued in Egypt and Lebanon—some predating the Saudi magazine by decades—such as:
- Al‑Radio
- Al‑Radio al‑Misri
- Al‑Idha‘a al‑Misriyya
- Al‑Studio
- Al‑Idha‘a al‑Lubnaniyya
Others were European publications targeting Arab readers, such as:
- Huna London
- Al‑Akhbar
- Al‑Mustami‘ al‑‘Arabi