Editing Mecca (section)

==Communications==

=== Press and newspapers ===
The first press was brought to Mecca in 1885 by [[Osman Nuri Pasha]], an Ottoman [[Wali (administrative title)|Wāli]]. During the Hashemite period, it was used to print the city's official gazette, ''[[Al Qibla]]''. The Saudi regime expanded this press into a larger operation, introducing the new Saudi official gazette of Mecca, ''Umm al-Qurā''.<ref name="EIModern" /> Mecca also has its own paper owned by the city, ''[[Al Nadwa (newspaper)|Al Nadwa]]''. However, other Saudi newspapers are also provided in Mecca such as the ''[[Saudi Gazette]]'', ''[[Al Madinah]]'', ''[[Okaz]]'' and ''[[Al-Bilad (Saudi newspaper)|Al Bilad]],'' in addition to other international newspapers.

=== Television ===
Telecommunications in the city were emphasized early under the Saudi reign. King [[Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia|Abdulaziz]] pressed them forward as he saw them as a means of convenience and better governance. While under [[Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca|Hussein bin Ali]], there were about 20 public telephones in the entire city; in 1936, the number jumped to 450, totaling about half the telephones in the country. During that time, telephone lines were extended to Jeddah and Ta'if, but not to the capital, [[Riyadh]]. By 1985, Mecca, like other Saudi cities, possessed modern telephone, telex, radio and television communications.<ref name="EIModern" /> Many television stations serve the city area, including [[Saudi T.V. Channel 1|Saudi TV1]], [[Saudi T.V. Channel II|Saudi TV2]], [[Saudi TV Sports]], [[Al-Ekhbariya]], [[Arab Radio and Television Network]] and various cable, satellite and other specialty television providers.

=== Radio ===
Limited radio communication was established within the Kingdom under the Hashemites. In 1929, wireless stations were set up in various towns in the region, creating a network that would become fully functional by 1932. Soon after [[World War II]], the existing network was greatly expanded and improved. Since then, radio communication has been used extensively in directing the pilgrimage and addressing the pilgrims. This practice started in 1950, with the initiation of broadcasts on the [[Day of Arafa|Day of 'Arafah]] (9 Dhu al-Hijjah), and increased until 1957, at which time Radio Makkah became the most powerful station in the Middle East at 50&nbsp;kW. Later, power was increased nine-fold to 450&nbsp;kW. Music was not immediately broadcast; gradually, folk music was introduced.<ref name="EIModern" />