Layalina Productions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public diplomacy initiative based in Washington, D.C., that develops, produces and distributes television programming throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
In this way, Layalina could avoid the mistrust associated with an overtly pro-American, U.S. Government-run broadcaster like Voice of America or Alhurra, yet still producing programming which could remain both popular and impactful.
[citation needed] Layalina's most successful, publicized series has been On the Road in America, a half-hour reality show following the journey of six young Arabs across the United States and documenting their encounters, misadventures and cultural exchanges along the way.
Following its 2007 debut, New York Times writer Jacques Steinberg described the series as, "The sort of television show that Al Jazeera and MTV might produce if they could be coaxed together in front of an editing terminal.
[6] In 2008, Layalina reached a deal with MBC's al-Arabiya News Channel to air Life After Death, a documentary examining the effects of violent extremism on families across countries and cultures.
The documentary has been used as part of de-radicalization curricula by both the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue in Saudi Arabia and the Sindh Punjab Educational Foundation.
[6] A children's cartoon program following the friendship of two young boys from different backgrounds: Ben, an American with a love of sports, and Izzy, a Jordanian with a knack for technology.
The Financial Times, in a February 2007 review of On the Road in America, Season One, commented, "With the Middle East racked by conflicts, most of which involve the US, the political images will no doubt continue to overshadow lighter appeals for understanding between the Arab world and the US.