Dr. Ziad E. F. Noujeim is one of the leading figures in broadcast journalism in Lebanon and the arab world.
Very few names are as recognizable as him.
Noujeim, 50, lebanese-born, is also an oral surgeon trained at Paris and Harvard Universities and a Senior Lecturer in Oral Surgery and Medicine and Biology at the Lebanese University School of Dentistry in Beirut, Lebanon (since 1985).From December 2003 to January 2005, he worked (in the USA) as lead anchor of Al Hurra satellite and from February 2005 to February 2009 he worked (in Beirut, Lebanon) as Anchor and Senior Producer for the above
TV satellite station.
Al Hurra broadcasts in arabic from Springfield, Virginia, in the US, and is operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN*), a non-profit corporation financed (but not run) by the US Congress and supervised by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent and autonomous US federal agency responsible for all US government and government sponsored non-military international broadcasting. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of Al Hurra broadcasters and employees.
Al Hurra is available on Arabsat Digital and Analog as well as Nilesat Digital. It covers the NE, the ME, North Africa and the Gulf region, Al Hurra Europe started lately to broadcast and it covers now most of European countries.
The 24-hour channel, based in Virginia, USA, is the US government’s largest and most elaborate media undertaking since the creation of Voice of America (VOA): it is dedicated to promote and sustain democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and women empowerment in arab and islamic regions.
* MBN (formerly MTN, Middle East TV Networks) is chartered in Washington, DC.
Joseph Biden (US Vice President) with Dr. Ziad Noujeim at Al Hurra in 2004.
Noujeim, a working host with eleven TV programmes to his credit, has a career that spans almost two decades. Over the years, he has received national and arab recognition for his professional achievements and has been the recipient of several awards and honors in the fields of media and medicine. He was extensively interviewed and quoted by lebanese, arab and international TV Networks and printed media (CNN, NBC, Al Jazeera, MBC, LBCI, LBC SAT, New TV Lebanon, Abu Dhabi TV, ART, Future TV Lebanon, Hia TV (Qanat Al Mara’a al a’rabiyah), the french channel La Cinq, Canal France International-CFI, the french channel TV5, The Daily Star - Beirut, L’Orient-Le-Jour - Beirut, Al Charq Al Awsat, Al Hayat, An Nahar, Assafir,
Al Balad - Beirut, Al Afqar, ArabAd, Al-Akhbar and others…).
Brush, inquisitive, investigative and opinionated, concerned and compassionate, ironical and witty, irreverent and uncompromising, Noujeim acquired
a wealth of experience as an interviewer, exploring key political, social, cultural and public health issues. According to most of the critics, he has an unmistakable liberal bent. Indeed, he begun his (media) career, in 1986, hosting entertainment artistic and cultural indoor programmes and game shows with a private (Lebanese) TV Channel, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), now a leader among Arab TV networks. For several years, he anchored (at LBCI) four programmes that were so popular that he made covers of local magazines. All four programmes were aired prime-time in Beirut and always drew the highest ratings in Lebanon: they were all designed, produced and directed by Simon Asmar, one of the most creative, talented and quoted Arab artistic directors and impresarios.
In 1993, Noujeim contracted with Al Mashreq Television,
a lebanese private channel that covered (at that time) Lebanon and the Syrian coast. He produced and anchored there Ana Al Shaa’b (I am the people), the first live political talk show in the history of modern Lebanese television. The programme was co-produced by Elie Ghassan and (Miss) Soumar Jaber* (both co-hosted some of the programme’s segments).* now News Anchor at Al Arabiya channelAna Al Shaa’b featured fourty to fifty persons per episode, all lebanese, with a special guest, named Day’f Min Loubnan (a guest from Lebanon), that filled a whole segment. This guest was a recognized public figure that was invited to debate the episode’s topic.
Free points of views were expressed with hot discussions and debates on crucial and controversial topics, less than three years after the formal end of conflicts and wars in Lebanon. The most remembered episodes addressed were water issues in the Middle East, peace with Israel, syrian presence in Lebanon, 1989 “war of liberation” and eviction of (former) lebanese interim cabinet premier General Michel Aoun, Antoun Saa’deh’ and the syrian nationalist social doctrine, Chehabism and the reform of lebanese state institutions, the lebanese wars, and other controversial issues. All these topics and others were debated live, for two to three hours, with special episodes lasting around six hours on air (syrian presence in Lebanon, political movement of General Michel Aoun). Personalities and experts featuring in this talk show were MPs, ministers, political analysts, journalists, leaders of political parties, human rights advocates, writers, university professors, college students and lebanese citizens.
After Ana Al Shaa’b, Noujeim re-joined LBCI (in 1995) to anchor a new programme, Al Shater Yeh’ki (let the brave talk or dare speaking), a social and political programme designed and produced by Janane Mallat and co-produced by Janine Jalkh and Sana Ayass Khatcherian.
In an unprecedented rise to the top, Noujeim anchored this pioneering programme that is still remembered and quoted in lebanese and arab media. Indeed, it investigated arab social, cultural, religious and political issues and taboos in lebanese and arab muslim societies. Mallat and her team made Al Shater Yeh’ki the first real arab public forum that powerfully promoted freedom of speech and challenged conventional arab “wooden tongue” (langue de bois).
For almost six years, Al Shater Yeh’ki was a very rare hit in the arab world (through LBC Satellite) with both critics and audiences. Issues and topics were debated live and prime-time, featuring an indoor town-hall meeting format with four to six experts and fourty to fifty participants per session. The programme was aired weekly for two to three hours. Topics tackled mainly social, political, educational, cultural, environmental, artistic, economic and public health issues. The programme’s tone was outspoken, brazen and bold, comments frank and blunt. The highlights were, sexual problems, sexuality before marriage, rape, abortion, abuses in lebanese and arab prisons, racial intolerance, homophobia, political leadership, violence in schools, domestic violence against women, incest and child abuse, political succession in Lebanon and arab countries, censorship on press and TV in Lebanon and the arab world, press and scandals, press credibility, divorce, civil marriage in Lebanon, free masonry, adoption, hard rock music and exorcism, death penalty, mixed marriages (Christians/muslims and Christians/druzes), “life” after death, forgiveness after lebanese wars, love and affairs (marital betrayal), AIDS, drugs and narcotics’ addiction, organ’s donation/trade, naturalization issues in Lebanon, euthanasia, suicide, vendetta (revenge), law enforcement in lebanese courts, gambling, lying, pleasure marriage in lebanese shia’a (muslim) community (Zawaj al mout’aa), corruption in Lebanon, Virginity (sexual), the citizen and state-power (abuse of power), the headscarf (al hijaab), taboos/interdits and social prohibitions, jealousy, rumors in eastern societies, church unity, cosmetic surgery issues (medical, social, legal), internet issues, stress and depression, medical malpractice, celebrity (fame), and others.
Apart debating with participants (mostly students, workers and women) and paneling with experts (main guests),
Al Shater Yeh’ki consisted of short stories (3 to 4 – two to three minutes reports per piece) that featured personal witnesses that often respected witness’ privacy by hiding his/her face and changing her/his voice (in case the person wanted to remain anonymous): homosexuals, victims of rape, incest or domestic violence, political repression, adultery, medical malpractice, prison’s abuses, divorce and depression… addressed testimonies that were often shocking and dramatic, however touching and pathetic. During these special segments of the show, Noujeim was widely praised for providing a reassuring tone for witnessing victims. These very hot (at that time!) topics gave the broadcast
a dominant place in lebanese and arab ratings, making
Al Shater Yeh’ki a national and panarab catchphrase and Noujeim a recognizable brand name on LBC network (at that time, LBC was the undisputed leader in arab terrestrial and satellite television networks).
Beyond its openness, Al Shater Yeh’ki actuated a process of lebanese and arab speech “liberalization” by freely addressing a very wide range of controversial and challenging issues.
As a result of the social impact of Al Shater Yeh’ki in Lebanon and arab countries, Noujeim was hosted (in 1997) by Al Jazeera most popular and quoted programme, Al Ittijah’ Al Moua’akiss (opposite direction), moderated by
Dr. Faisal Al Kasim. During this show, Noujeim was presented to Al Jazeera viewers as the “anchor of courageous programmes”.
He was also invited (in 1996) by the US embassy in Beirut to spend one month in the US within the International Visitor Programme of the US Information Agency (USIA): the programme was sort of clerkship in “Television Broadcasting in the US” (Atlanta, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Washington, DC).
Noujeim’s professionalism and seriousness (in Al Shater Yeh’ki particularly) earned him the best lebanese TV anchor award (Beirut, 2001), honoring his contributions to TV business.
Al Shater Yeh’ki went sometimes overboard but never turned indecent, it went “over the edge” sometimes, but never “burned” people unfairly. In this six year venture, Noujeim’s professional equanimity never eclipsed his ethical committments, he might have-unvoluntarily- shown emotions that reflect his bias toward a specific topic or toward one guest or the other, but he constantly kept his poise and rarely took sides.
After Al Shater Yeh’ki, Noujeim acquired a reputation for putting the most complex and controversial issues on the agenda when other broadcasters have ignored or underestimated them. He was also recognised as a TV personality that can steer public opinion.
In December 2001, Noujeim joined Murr Television (MTV), a lebanese private terrestrial and satellite channel broadcasting from Beirut, Lebanon. There, he produced and anchored a new programme, Istifta’a (referendum), a live political talk show that was aired live on a weekly basis. The programme was co-produced, designed and (technically) directed by Sleiman Abou Zeid (now regional manager and executive producer for North Africa and the Middle East at
Al Hurra).
For the first time in modern arab television, a TV talk show plebiscited the viewers, randomly and live, on topics and specific subjects of popular interest. The programme always featured, during 2-3 hours duration, a main guest through
a window (an expert or researcher) and several participants indoor. Apart that, viewers from Lebanon, neighbouring arab countries and some european countries, called to express their worries, fears, passions and opinions regarding social and political matters, they also formulated statements and wishes about very specific subjects they like to discuss on air. Every caller or participant was given only 3-5 minutes to allow a maximum number of people to participate. This “media referendum”, the first in its type in arab societies, was the prototype of democratic platform that Istifta’a wanted to promote.
After 19 (weekly) sessions of audience “referendum”, Noujeim, Abou Zeid and their team (Charbel Antoun*, Neyla Assaf, Fida Bassil**, Issam Noujeim*** and
Ziad Baroud****) gathered and analyzed all viewers statements, phone calls, faxes and e-mails, they gave priority to air specialized sessions on the most popular topics and wanted subjects.
The selected topics were inter alia, lebanese resistance (against foreign military occupation), lebanese wars, political assassinations in Lebanon, religious sectarianism in Lebanon and the arab world, religious fundamentalism in Lebanon and the arab world, lebanese political parties issues, environmental issues in Lebanon, Tai’if agreement (that ended formally the lebanese wars), freedom of press in Lebanon, taxation issues in Lebanon, corruption in Lebanon, palestinian and syrian extraterritoriality in Lebanon, regional geopolitical changements in the Middle East, gun-control policy in Lebanon, and others.
* now Producer at Al-Hurra
** now News Anchor at ANB
*** now Associate Producer at New TV Lebanon
**** University professor and researcher, author and human rights advocate and now Minister of Internal Affairs
Unfortunately, MTV (Lebanon) was forced to close by the lebanese government on September 3, 2002. The court’s decision to shut down MTV was based on purportedly illegal electoral advertising for Metn MP candidate, Gabriel Murr, who was a main shareholder in the TV station. The court’s sentence, issued by magistrate Labib Zouain, quoted article 68 of the lebanese parliamentary election law, which stipulates “complete closure” for TV stations found to have broadcast election propaganda during electoral (legislative) campaign (This article -68-was not enforced in the case of the public TV channel “Tele Liban”, TL, and the private channel “Future TV”, which made the same propaganda- both stations were, partially or totally, owned and favored by late-former-lebanese cabinet premier, Rafik Hariri).
Paris and Washington expressed openly their disapproval for MTV closure, and, in its statement, the US embassy in Beirut questioned Lebanon’s commitment to freedom of press, freedom of speech and political expression. Peaceful demonstrations (in which Noujeim took part) protested in Beirut central district (down town) against MTV shutdown, whereas Sheikh Taha Al Sabounji, a Lebanese sunni cleric (Mufti of Tripoli, in Northern Lebanon) urged “nationalistic” parties (al ah’zaab al wataniyya) to organize demonstrations to counter what he considered to be
a potential “coup d’état”. Some of the demonstrators were harshly beaten by lebanese security forces and sustained bruises, wounds and fractures, lebanese civil defense forces also fired water cannons at the peaceful protesters and (lebanese) security forces never bothered investigating brutality that was clearly relayed on both local and international TV stations, including “Euro News”.
Even the lebanese Hizbollah party expressed its opposition to MTV shutdown, stating that the party was opposed to closure despite what the party called “ the provocative sectarian broadcast of MTV”.
Less than 2 months after the closure, the lebanese judiciary started investigations on the charges levelled against Noujeim and accused him of undermining relations with a “sisterly nation” (dawla chaqiqa, Syria), slandering lebanese president, General Emile Lahoud and the lebanese security forces and disturbing civil concord (public peace): these four charges focused on the Istifta’a July 14 ,2002 broadcast about “freedom of press in Lebanon”. For more than two hours, Noujeim was interrogated by Beirut chief investigating magistrate, Dr. Hatem Madi, in presence of Noujeim’s attorney, Dr. Mounif Hamdane.
Noujeim denied the spurious charges against him and his programme Istifta’a, and stated that he never planned to offend neither Lebanese president nor anybody else. “The only goal of the programme was to promote freedom of speech and empower people to speak their beliefs openly”, Noujeim said.
Dr. Hamdane asserted Noujeim’s innocence also.
Magistrate Madi also interrogated guests of the Istifta’a indicted programme (freedom of press), former minister and MP Edmond Rizk, former broadcaster Camille Menassa, journalist Charles Ayoub (Al Diyar newspaper), journalist
Georges Nassif (An Nahar newspaper), journalist Dr. Samir Kassir* (An Nahar), broadcaster Joseph Isawi (now anchor at Al Hurra), broadcaster Mathilda Farjallah and others.* Kassir was assassinated in Beirut by a car explosion, in 2005.Finally, the lebanese publications court of cassation rejected an appeal submitted by MTV against the September 3, 2002 closure order. In its final decision, the court ruled to keep the TV premises closed permanently (after the syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, the Lebanese courts reallowed MTV to broadcast).
In 2003, Noujeim was invited by (Mrs.) Leila Shaikhli to co-host Dunia, a talk show that she was hosting on Abu Dhabi TV, in the UAE (Shaikhli is now anchoring, on Abu Dhabi TV, a weekly political talk show, Panorama).
Dunia (life, universe, existence) was a very popular chat magazine-style talk show that featured several stories in each episode, with interviews and discussions with experts, all matched with report on each story. The programme was taped and edited, but without any censorship. It tackled mainly social topics, with special emphasis on fashion, public health, medicine, traditions, arab legacy, fine arts, culture and music.
Shaikhli’s ground breaking interviews with arab social and political figures and her enterprising reporting and hosting, have made her a particularly acclaimed and respected journalist broadcaster in the arab world.
During the same year (2003) Noujeim was invited by
Al Hurra to host Saa’a Hurra (Free Hour), the flagship daily, live, political talk show of Al Hurra and-today-its highest-rated programme.
The show was originally designed by Mouafac Harb,
Al Hurra News Director (now also, MBN Executive VP) and Sleiman Abou Zeid (formerly Head of Current Affairs Department and presently Regional Manager and Executive Producer at Al Hurra).
In his anchor role, Noujeim was the principal interviewer for Saa’a Hurra, a show dealing with the current affairs of arab and islamic worlds and daily (arab and international) breaking news. Indeed, Saa’a Hurra emphasized the issues of democracy, freedom of speech, human/civil rights and women empowerment in arab and islamic societies, but it always tackled all current international issues (Saa’a Hurra is presently hosted by other anchors at Al Hurra, and by Noujeim, sporadically, if
a special event occurs in Beirut or in the arab region).
Until October 2006, Noujeim has already anchored more than 160 episodes of one hour, live, five episodes of two hours live (breaking news format), 33 episodes of three hours, live coverage and breaking news format, one episode of two hours taped, and many town-hall meetings from Springfield, Va (USA), New York (USA) and Beirut (Lebanon).
Saa’a Hurra is presently aired daily, Sunday to Thursday live, at prime-time for the Middle East (1.00 PM, US eastern time/2.00 PM eastern during summer).
Saa’a Hurra producers, Charbel Antoun, Hussein Jradi, Nabil Abi Saab and Raèd Fakih’ and bookers, Adam Nixon, Deborah Bodlander, Sara Hessenflow and Jessica Lanza, often select guests who represent sometimes, the two extremes of an issue, an ultraconservative intellectual to debate a knee-jerk open liberal, but there is always a room for a middle ground guest.
In the studios, located in Springfield, Virginia, USA and in Cairo and Beirut, there is often one guest (sometimes two or three) with two or three (sometimes four) windows, live, from, Washington, DC, Beirut, Montreal, Nazareth, Kuwait City, Los Angeles, Moscow, Jerusalem, Al Khartoum, Gaza, New York City, Amman, Rome, Rabat, Kabul, Cairo, London, Tunis, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Oslo, Tehran, Baghdad, Vienna, Ramallah, Dubai, Philadelphia, Paris, Al Manama, Riyadh or Boston, or any other city in the world.
Saa’a Hurra features dissenting views and often generates heated and provocative debates, but far from pure sensationalism expressed by frequent unethical interruptions and belligerent shouting.
Noujeim always endeavored to follow suit with Al Hurra’s motto (in which he deeply believes): democracy and freedom of speech. He did his best to provide the viewers with congeries of accurate, factual, objective, balanced and unbiased information and data, knowing perfectly that dissemination of unbiased information helps significantly to counter propaganda and stereotypes: information and data were provided by qualified commentators (from USA, Europe and the arab world mainly) who are worldwide recognized experts in the requested area or topic (politicians, ministers, MPs, speakers of parliaments, presidential candidates, party presidents and leaders, scientists, university chancellors, intellectuals, journalists, political and security analysts, researchers in american and foreign think tanks, ambassadors, christian, muslim and jewish scholars, attorneys, human rights advocates, US senators and members of US Congress, political activists… and others).
By offering an american-arab speaking forum to address arab, muslim, christian and jewish concerns, Saa’a Hurra constantly tried to change the ongoing prejudices, misperceptions and misunderstandings that still prevail in the arab world.
The hottest topics debated (and hosted by Noujeim) in Saa’a Hurra were, The political future of Hizbollah, (March 05, Beirut), The Tsunami disaster in Asia (2 episodes), Rafiq Hariri’s assassination and its consequences (Feb./March 05, from Beirut), Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon (Feb./March 05, from Beirut), Arafat’s health deterioration / succession, Bin Laden terrorist tape (Oct. 31, 04), Sharon’s disengagement plan approval by the Knesset, Presidential / legislative elections and future of democracy in Tunisia, Lebanese developments after Hariri’s cabinet resignation, Therapeutic and bioethical aspects of stem cell research, New G-8 european members plan to pressure Iran about its nuclear programme, Darfur
Crisis, Reform in Syria, European Union membership talks with Turkey, First presidential elections in Afghanistan, Taba (Egypt) terrorist bombings, New appointments in Syrian government (Oct. 7, 04), American presidential election day (Nov. 2, 04), The trial for the three democracy advocates in Saudi Arabia, The blocking of installation of the Egypt’s first Islamic-oriented political party and horizons of reform in Egypt, Israeli incursion in Gaza strip (Sept. 30, 04), Democracy and human rights in Lybia, American-Syrian relationships after the 1559 UN resolution, Issues of political succession in the Palestinian Authority, Issues of Political succession in Egypt, Greater Middle East Initiative, Failure to re-introduce adultery as a crime and reform horizons in Turkey, The 9/11 terrorist attacks revisited (Sept. 11, 04), Internal Palestinian crisis and Arafat’s reluctance to reform, Lebanese presidential elections’ issues, The Egyptian initiative for Gaza, Horizons of Syrian-Israeli peace negotiation talks, Judeophobia in France and Sharon’s call for French jews to leave France, The new egyptian government challenges (July 20, 04), Human rights abuse of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, Torture in syrian prisons, The 9/11 commission’s report and Al Qaeda’s possible connections with Iran and Hizbollah, Sharon’s disengagement plan from Gaza, Who runs Lebanon and how? (a special town-hall meeting shooted in Beirut on August 24, 04), Origins and psychology of worldwide terrorism, Iraqi-Syrian and Iraqi-Iranian issues, Freedom of press in the arab world, Human rights and freedom of press in Yemen, Terrorism in Morocco revisited-one year after terrorist blasts of Casablanca (May 16, 04), Syria accountability and Lebanese sovereignty restoration act 2003, Terrorism and reform in Saudi Arabia, US-European relations revisited on D-day (June 6, 04), Recent arab summits (2004), Arab women’s issues, Saddam Hussain’s trial, European-Syrian partnership talks, Arab media funding, The road map and future of President George W. Bush’s vision on israeli-palestinian conflict, Horizons of arab league’s reforms, Kuwaiti-Iraqi issues, Iraqi women’s issues / empowerment, Emergency law in Syria, The (West Bank) security fence and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Human rights and freedom of speech/press in Tunisia, Al Qaeda in Iraq, Women’s world day/empowerment, revisited (March 8, 04), UNDP arab human development report of 2003, Iraqi prisoners’ abuse / scandal in Abu Ghraib, Lebanese sovereignty and independence of lebanese political decisions, Alleged Gadafi plot to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah Bin Abdel Aziz.
During Sa’aa Hurra, Noujeim built an impressive record of interviews in arab countries and worldwide, with prominent personalities and leaders, among them, presidents, presidential candidates, ambassadors, prime ministers, ministers, speakers of parliaments, MPs, scholars, consultants, journalists, writers, political analysts, and others.
The following is a list of the most prominent personalities who were invited to participate in Saa’a Hurra:
- Presidents: Elias Hraoui (Lebanon), Amine Gemayel (Lebanon)
- Deputy Presidents: Mouhammad Ali Abtahi (Iran)
- US ambassadors: David Satterfield (twice), David Shinn, Martin Indyk, James Larocco, Robert Pelletreau, Marc Ginsberg, Theodore Kattouf (twice).
- Arab ambassadors: Khidr Haroun Ahmad (Sudan), Rand Rahim (Iraq), Hussain Hassouna (Arab League), Ahmad Abdel Halim (Sudan), Clovis Maksoud (Arab League), Simon Karam (Lebanon), Mohammad Al Baisouni (Egypt).
- Diplomats: Edward Abington (USA), Saa’èb Ouraykaat (Palestinian Authority), Brahim Sah’d (Lybia), Hassan Abd El Rahmane (Palestinian Authority), Abdallah Abdallah (Palestinian Authority), Dean McLoughlin (UK), Haydar Abdel Chafi (Palestinian Authority).
- Speakers of Parliaments: Abd El Hadi Al Majali (Jordan), Rafiq Al Natcheh (Palestinian Authority).
- Prime Ministers: General Michel Aoun (Lebanon).
- Deputy Prime Ministers: General Issam Abou Jamra (Lebanon), Elias El Ferzli (Lebanon).
- Members of US Congress: Eliot Engel, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
- US Senators: Joseph Biden.
- Members of Parliaments: Dr. Nassir Al Soudani (Iran), Dr. Fahd Al-Khannah (Kuwait), Dr. Mouhammad Habash (Syria), Khmayess Al-Shammary (Tunisia), Salwa El Terzi (Tunisia), Dalal Salameh (Palestinian Authority),
Mahfouz Ramadani (Belgium), Dr. Ayman Nour (Egypt), Nasser Kandil (Lebanon), Dr. Ghattas Khoury (Lebanon), Dr. Marwan Fares (Lebanon), Dr. Fares Souaïd (Lebanon), Abd El Aziz Chahine (Palestinian Authority), Ali Al Rached (Kuwait), Talab El Saneh’ (Arab United List, Knesset), Abd El Malek Dahamcha (Islamic movement and Arab List, Knesset), Ayoub Al Qarra (arab-israeli, Likoud, Knesset), Abbas Zaki (Palestinian Authority), Moufid Abd Rabbo (Palestinian Authority), Ali Hassan Khalil (Lebanon), Misbaah’ Al Ahdab (Lebanon), Gabriel El Murr (Lebanon), Akram Chhayyeb (Lebanon), Dr. Ahmad Fatfat (Lebanon), Dr. Ghinouah Jalloul (Lebanon), Walid E’iido (Lebanon), Mouhammad Al Hourani (Palestinian Authority).
- Ministers: Yasser Abd Rabbo (Palestinian Authority), Dr. Nabil Shaath’ (Palestinian Authority), Nabil Aamr (Palestinian Authority), Al Habib Ben Yeh’ya (Tunisia), Dr. Mohammad Al Soubaa’h’ (Kuwait), Amat El Aalim Al Sousouwwa (Yemen), Bakhtiar Amin (Irak), Saleh Al Qallab (Jordan), Ahmad Haroun (Sudan), Dr. Ibrahim Qouaider (Lybia), Dr. Albert Mansour (Lebanon), Brahim Abou Al Naja (Palestinian Authority), Saad Bin Tiflah (Kuwait), Mouhammad Bin Issa (Morocco).
- Presidential Candidates: Dr. Mass’ouda Jalal (Afghanistan), MP Nayla Mouawad (Lebanon), Taysiir Khalèd (Palestinian Authority), Dr. Moustapha Al Barghouthi (Palestinian Authority).
- Heads and leaders of Political Parties and Movements: Abd El Aziz El Mislit (Syria), Karim Al Chibani (Syria), Samir Frangieh (Lebanon), Ziad Majed (Lebanon), Elias Atallah (Lebanon), Jamal Zaqqout (Palestinian Authority), Majdi El Daqqaq (Egypt), Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbache (Palestinian Authority), Ahmad Ghnaym (Palestinian Authority), Kayèd El Ghoul (Palestinian Authority), Dr. Fayez Ezzeddine (Syria), Ahmad Hussain Aadam (Sudan), Ramzi Rabaah’ (Palestinian Authority), Dr. Chukri Al H’amrouni (Tunisia), Dr. Maryam Abou Daqqa (Palestinian Authority).
- University Chancellors/Presidents: Dr. Joseph Maila (Catholic University of Paris), Dr. Ibrahim Badrane (Cairo University).
- University Professors and Scientists: Dr. Mouhammad Tajeddine Al Hussaini (University of Mohammad the Fifth, Morocco), Dr. Madawi Al Rachid (Kings College, London, UK), Dr. Manar Al Chourbaji (American University of Cairo), Dr. LeuRoy Walters (Georgetown University, Washington, DC), Dr. André Mégarbané (St. Joseph University, Beirut), Dr. Raymond Tanter (Georgetown University), Dr. Sai’id Ismai’il Ali (Aïn Chams University, Egypt), Dr. Jessica Stern (Harvard University, Boston, USA), Dr. Mouna Makram Obeid (American University of Cairo), Dr. Jerrold Post (George Washington University, Washington, DC), Dr. Khalil Al Khalil (Al Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia), Dr. Charles Chartouni (Georgetown University and Lebanese University, Beirut), Dr. Sami Aoun (University of Sherbrook, Canada), Dr. Adnan Al Sayed Hussain (Lebanese University, Beirut), Dr. Hassan Al Aalkim (UAE University), Dr. Suhayl Jabbour (American University of Beirut), Dr. Karen Antman (National Cancer Institute, USA), Dr. Hassan Naafi’aa (Cairo University), Dr. Bassam Al Hachem (Lebanese University, Beirut).
- Journalists/Broadcasters: Sami Kleib (Al Jazeera), Adel Malek (UK/Lebanon), Ali Abou Zerda (Morocco).
- Journalists: Jubran Tueni* (CEO , An Nahar, Beirut), Dr. Ahmad Al Roub’ii (former MP/minister, Kuwait), James Fallows (Atlantic Monthly Washington, DC, USA), Walid Al Nisf (Kuwait), Dr. Hala Mustafa (Egypt), Dr. Imad Jad (Egypt), Chaker El Jawhari (Jordan), Hani Al Masri (Palestinian Authority), Hisham Abdallah (Palestinian Authority), Adel Darwiche (London, UK), Ibrahim Al Amine (Lebanon), Hassan Sati (Sudan), Faisal Salmane (Lebanon), Othmane Mirgani (Sudan), Mouhammad Noureddine (Lebanon), Chaabane Abboud (Syria), Dr. Moustapha Al-Labbad (Egypt), Tarek Hassan (Egypt), Dr. Samir Qassir (Lebanon), Dr. Sleimane Al Hatlane (Saudi Arabia), Ousama Saraya (Egypt), Nihad Al Ghadiri (Syria), Saleh Bachir (Tunisia), Qassem Qassir (Lebanon), Ibrahim Bayram (Lebanon), Emile Amin (Egypt), Ali Al Amin (Lebanon), Mouhammad Abd El Qader El Jassem (Kuwait), Jamil Mroueh (Lebanon), Mouhammad Fahd Al Harithi (Saudi Arabia), Mahmoud Chammame (Lybia/USA), Khaled Al Zoubaidi (Jordan), Moursi Atallah (Egypt), Achraf Al Aachri (Egypt).
* Tueni was assassinated in Beirut by a car explosion, in 2006.
- Think tanks: Reuel Marc Gerecht (American Enterprise, Washington DC, USA), Clifford May (The Foundation for the defense of Democracies, Washington, DC), Dr. Walid Pharès (The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies), Steven Simon (RAND, Washington, DC, USA), Dr. Robert Hunter (RAND, Washington, DC, USA), Ali Aa’l Ahmed (Saudi Institute, Washington, DC), Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes (Brookings Institution, Washington, DC), James Philips (Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC), Dr. Nile Gardiner (Heritage Foundation), David Makovsky (Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Washington, DC), Dr. Soner Cagaptay (Washington Institute for Near East Policy), Max Abrahams (Washington Institute for Near East Policy), Dr. Maa’moun Fandy (United States Institute of Peace, Washington, DC), David Aaron (RAND, Washington, DC, USA), Dr. Mokhtar Ghambou (American Moroccan Institute, New York City), Julianne Smith (Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC), Linda Jamison (Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC), Richard Straus (Middle East Policy Group, Washington, DC), Dr. Kenneth Katzman (Congressional Research Service, US Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC), Dr. Mourh’af Joueijaty (Middle East Institute, Washington, DC), Michael Horowitz (Hudson Institute, Washington, DC), Judith Kipper (Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC), Dr. Fergéi Markov (National Council on International Affairs, Moscow), Lee Feinstein (Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC), Azzam Al Tamimi (Institute of Islamic Political Thought, London, UK), Ilan Berman (American Foreign Policy Council, Washington, DC), Dr. Khattar Abou Diab (International Institute for Geopolitics, Paris), Riyad Kah’waji (Near East and Gulf Center for Military and Strategic Studies, Dubai, UAE), Dr. Bulent Aliriza (Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC), Dr. Seth Jones (RAND, Washington, DC, USA), Omar Al Choubaki (Al Ahram, Cairo), Robert Andrew (Hudson Institute, Washington, DC), Avi Jorish (The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies), Dr. Ali Nouri Zadeh (Center for Arab and Iranian Studies, London, UK), Dr. Michele Durocher Dunne (Carnegie Endowment for Internatinal Peace, Wahington, DC, USA), Dr. Michael Scott Doran (Council for Foreign Relations, Washington, DC, USA), Frank Gaffney (Center for Security Policy, Washington, DC), Dr. Michael Ledeen (American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC), Karlyn Bowman (American Enterprise Institute), Stefen Hess (Brookings Institution, Washington, DC), Jon Wolfsthal (Carnegie Endowment for Internatinal Peace, Wahington, DC, USA), Dr. Jamal Abd El Jawad (Al Ahram, Cairo), Henri Siegman (Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC), Hani Hourani (New Jordan Center for Studies, Amman), Dr. Hamdi Abdel Athim (Sadate Academy for Administrative Sciences, Cairo), Dr. Mouhammad Al Sayyèd Saiid (Al Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies, Cairo).
- Political analysts: Jihad El Khazen (London, UK), Dr. Abbas Khamiar (Iran), Dr. Zouhair El Mikh (Iraq), Dr. Ahmad Abou Matar (Norway), Taha Khalil (Egypt), Sultan Khattab (Jordan), Dr. Paul Jureidini (USA), Leslie McLoughlin (Exeter, UK), Jamal Khachikji (Saudi Arabia), Dr. Waddah’ Charara (Lebanon), Dr. Mouhammad Al Roumayh’i (Kuwait), Ourayb Al Rantawi (Jordan), Sabaah’ Zankana (Iran), Dr. Sai’id Al Lawoundi (Egypt), Achraf Al Ajrami (Palestinian Authority), Dr. Akram Al Hakim (Iraq), General Adel Souleimane (Egypt), Dr. Jamal Abd El Jawad (Egypt), Hassan Al Kachef (Palestinian Authority), Amer Al Bayyati (Iraq), Dr. Joseph Kechichian (USA), Mousayb Al Nouaymi (Iran), Ibrahim Gharaybeh (Jordan), Dr. Fah’d El Fanek (Jordan), Dr. Frank Luntz (USA), Naseer Al Assaad Lebanon).
- Human Rights/Democracy advocates and activists: Sarah Leah Witson (Human Rights Watch, New York City, USA), Dr. Saadeddine Brahim (Egypt), Charlotte Ponticelli (Programme of International Women’s issues, Department of State, USA), Widney Brown (Human Rights Watch, New York, USA), Joe Stork (Human Rights Watch, New York City, USA), Joel Campagna (Committee for Protection of Journalists, New York, USA), Dr. Rajaa’ Al Khuzai’i (women empowerment, Irak), Ala Talbani (women empowerment, Irak), Naziha Rajiba (Tunisia), Riad Al Turk (Syria), Dr. Akram Al Bounni (Syria), Mouhammad Jbaily (Syria/USA), Hasiba Abd El Rahmane (Syria), Haytham El Maleh’ (Syria), Abd El Aziz El Khamis (Saudi Arabia), Nicole Choueiry (Amnesty International, London, UK), Dr. Bassem Alem (Saudi Arabia), Mamdouh’ Nakhlah (Egypt), Abd El Rahmane El Lahem (Saudi Arabia), Dr. Abd El Hussain Chaabane (Irak), Saleh J’ouda (Lybia/USA), Dr. Mouhammad Al Moughrabi (Lebanon), Wadih’ El Asmar (Lebanon), Moujda Bil Gitay (Human rights and women empowerment, Turkey), Hamida Mourabet Al Oubeidi (Human Rights and women empowerment, Tunisia), Nijad Al Bourh’i (Egypt), Bahieddine Hassan (Egypt), Hafez Abou Saada (Egypt), Amir Salem (Egypt), Dr. Choukri Al Hamrouni (Tunisia), Moutafa Bin Jaafar (Tunisia), Ahmad Hussain Adam (Sudan/UK), Iqbal Mrad Doughane (Women empowermwnt, Lebanon), Ghazi Aad (Lebanon), Hussain Ouqail Ahmad Ouqail (Sudan), Michael Mounir (USA), two human rights ministers: Bakhtiar Amin (Irak) and Amat Al Aalim Al Sousouwwa (Yemen) and Ali Al Baghli, former MP and minister (Kuwait).
- Christian advocates/experts: Dr. LeuRoy Walters (Professor of Christian Ethics, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA).
- Jewish advocates/experts: General Michel Darmon (President, France Israel Alliance), Sarah Stern (Director, Washington DC office of the American Jewish Congress).
- Islamic advocates/analysts/experts: Adel Al Touraifi (Saudi Arabia), Mountaser Al Zayyat (Egypt), Abdallah Anass (UK), Dr. Ibrahim Al Jaa’fari (Irak), Dr. Saad El Fakih’ (Saudi Arabia), Khalid Turaani (American Muslims for Jerusalem, Washington, DC), Khalid Al Batch (Al Jihaad Al Islami Movement), Diyaa’ Rachwane (Egypt).
On the arab and islamic political beats, Saa’a Hurra has acquired (now, after two years of broadcast) a major informative and reporting role by inviting arab liberals, and democracy and human rights advocates and activists, to address arab audience.
Despite his status as both national and arab celebrity, public reaction to Noujeim remains ambivalent and contradictory indeed, he stirred heated controversies, perhaps as a result of his straight forwardness and extreme candor. Noujeim’s professional credibility in the mainstream arab press, invalidated the claims of many journalists who were portraying him as a fringe figure in the profession of television broadcasting and journalism. He is still the subject of reverential TV and radio-arab-talk shows which depict him as a freedom advocate and an isolated voice of truth against a corrupt establishment.
Noujeim’s enhanced influence is reflected in the respect he now commands in the arab press, he has been sought lately by Al Charq El Awsat (arab) newspaper (October 22, 04), Al Afkar (arab) magazine (October 18, 04), Al Riyad (saoudi newspaper) (February 05) and ArabAd Magazine (March and November 2005 issues). Today, he is considered by arab audience as an independent and outspoken advocate in television journalism and a talk show host with no identifiable partisan background.
Noujeim has been conferred with a honorary appointment to the Research Board of Advisors of the American Biographical Institute (ABI) since 1997. He has also been awarded the Gold Medal of the Lebanese Dental Association (Beirut, 2003) in recognition of his work in clinical and organized dentistry and a special recognition plaque of the Arabian Society for Human Resources (Manama - Bahrain, 1997). He is an inductee of the International College of Dentists (ICD), based in the US, and a Fellow of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is quoted in the Who’s Who in Lebanon, the International Who’s Who in Medicine, the World of Arabs and the Asia/Pacific Who’s Who.
He is fluent in Arabic (native), English and French.
Noujeim is now based in Beirut, Lebanon since January 2005, he worked with Al Hurra as Anchor and Senior Producer. As a matter of fact, he hosted also for Al Hurra
a weekly town hall meeting talk show, “Barnamaj Khaass” (stands for special programme), a programme designed by Sleiman Abou Zeid and produced by Oukaab Saqr, a lebanese journalist and political analyst, based in Beirut. Indeed, this programme tackles social and political issues of the arab world, debating problems, weaknesses and future perspectives. The show features four (or five) main specialised guests and an audience consisting of different representatives of arab public. Main subjects and topics addressed until this update (October 2006) are arab civil society, arab dictatorship, the Qatari model, September eleven (revisited on air on September 11, 2005), liberalism in the arab world, unemployment in the arab world (and in Egypt), boat people immigrating from Morocco to Europe, the Salafi and Jihadi Islams v/s Sufism in Morocco, the Kuwaiti democratic model, immigration in the arab world, palestinian camps in Lebanon (a special show shooted inside a Palestinian camp in Beirut), inflation of population in Egypt, women condition and empowerment in the arab world, UNDP annual report (2004) on arab human development (Taqrir al tanmia al insaniya al arabiya, towards freedom in the arab world), problems of asiatic and other foreign workers in the UAE, demographic explosion (bursting) in Egypt, corruption in the arab world, and others.
“Barnamaj Khaass” was shooted and broadcasted from different arab cities and capitals, among them, Beirut, Cairo, Rabat, Kuwait City, Doha and Dubai.
“Barnamaj Khaass” featured the most prominent personalities and experts of the arab world, among them lawyer and former kuwaiti oil minister, Aali Al Baghli, member of the Saudi Schourah, Dr. Mohammad Al Zulfa, lawyer and lebanese human rights advocate and now Minister of Internal Affairs, Ziad Baroud, egyptian writer and journalist, Mamdouh’ Al Sheikh, lybian human rights advocate,Faraj Abu Al Aachah, Syrian journalist, Doreid Al Bayk, imarati law consultant, Dr. Mohammad Al Mansouri, imarati researcher and academician, Dr. Mohammad Al Naqbi, Egyptian sociologist and demography specialist, Dr. Nadia Halim, egyptian political analyst (at Al Ah’ram), Dr. Imad Jad, egyptian political analyst and professor (at H’elwan university in Cairo), Dr. Jihad Audah, egyptian political analyst and director of Ibn Rushd center for development (in Cairo), Dr. Ahmad Th’abet, egyptian political science professor (American University of Cairo) and former MP, Dr. Muna Makram Obeid, syrian journalist, political analyst and human rights advocate, Michel Kilo, bahraini journalist, writer and women rights advocate, Dr. (Mrs.) Shou’lah Chakib, lebanese human rights advocate and university professor, Wa’el Khayr, saudi political sociology expert , Dr. Mohammad Bin Sinitaan, lebanese journalist and political analyst, Saqr Abu Fakhr, iraqi journalist and researcher, Aali Al Saadi, qatari psychology consultant, Dr. Moza Al Malki, qatari media expert, Dr. Ahmad Abdel Malik, qatari journalist and women rights advocate, Dr. (Mrs.) Zakiya Malallah Abdel Aziz, sudani journalist, Dr. Tarek Al Shaikh, qatari children and women rights advocate, Dr. (Mrs.) Farida Al Obeidli, saudi writer and political analyst, Dr. Turki Al H’amad, egyptian writer and journalist (at Al Ah’ram), Dr. Wah’id Abdel Majid, tunisian journalist, human rights advocate and expert in Islamic movements, Salah’ Eldin Al Jourshi, jordanian writer and economist, Dr. Wah’ib Al Cha’er, moroccan MP, (Mrs.) Rachida Ben Mass’oud, moroccan political science and law professor (Sidi Mohammad Bin Abdallah University, in Fass, Morocco), Dr. Ahmad Moufid, moroccan MP, Dr. Mohammad Bin Yah’ya, lebanese consultant in strategy and former treasury and finances minister, Dimyanos Qattar, member of the Palestinian national council (MP), (Mrs.) Obayda Al Qazimi, saudi academic and media expert, Khalid Al Farm, kuwaiti former information minister, Dr. Saad Bin Tifla Al Aajami, Kuwaiti minister for development and planification, Dr. (Mrs.) Maasouma Al Moubarak, kuwaiti political analyst, former MP and former education minister, Dr. Ahmad Al Roub’ii, lebanese law expert and head of the arab working group for islamic-christian dialogue, Abbas Al H’alabi, lebanese sociology professor (Lebanese State University), Dr. Melh’em Chaoul, lebanese historian and university professor (Lebanese State University), Dr. Issam Khalifa, egyptian journalist and political science professor (Cairo University), Dr. Hassan Naafeh’, iraqi writer and political science university professor (American University of Beirut), Dr. Mohammad Al Fakih’, jordanian researcher and human rights advocate, Jawad Al Hamad, syrian researcher and critic, Omar Kush, palestinian journalist and human rights advocate, Suhayl Al Natur, palestinian media services specialist, Hisham Dibsi, moroccan women’s right advocate and university professor (Mawlay Ismaiil University, Morocco), Dr. (Mrs.) Nadia Al U’sheiri, imarati writer and journalist, (Mrs.) A’aisha Sultan, Syrian media specialist and freedom advocate, (Mrs.) Hala
Al Atassi, egyptian writer, journalist and political critic, (Mrs.) Amina al Naqqash, and others.
During the July 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah, Noujeim anchored a daily news talk show of 3 hours from Beirut, as part of Al Hurra daily live coverage of the war. He worked in this task, with no interruption, for 33 consecutive days, presenting the latest and breaking news and anchoring with his guests in the studio and reporters on the field. The show was produced by journalist Oukaab Saqr and supervised by Sleiman Abou Zeid and Mouaffac Harb. The main feature of this show was diversity of opinions. Noujeim did his best to expose all of the details on every political and military front, as accurately and objectively as possible. This freedom of expression bodes well for the prospects of a vibrant and open national discussion after the war.
Now and after close monitoring coverage of different arab channels of this war, Al Hurra was considered by the arab press and audience, to be particularly balanced, objective and unbiased.
The following is a list of the most prominent personalities who were invited to participate in the live coverage (from Beirut) that was hosted by Noujeim:
- Members of Lebanese Parliament: Misbah’ Al Ahdab, Ghassan Mukheiber, Wael Abu Fa’ur, Dr. Nabil Nicola, Samir Frangieh, Dr. Farid Al Khazen, Ibrahim Kanaan, Akram Ch’ayebb, Dr. Atef Majdalani, Elias Atallah, Antoine Zah’ra, Ne’mtallah Abi Nasr, Abbas Hashim, Hassan Yaacoub, Walid I’do, Dr. Ammar Al H’uri.
- Ministers: Dr. Talal Al Sah’ili (agriculture), Dr. Jihad Az’ur (finances), Michel Pharaon (parliament issues), Marwan Hamadeh (telecommunications), Ah’mad Fatfat (Interim minister of interior), Ghazi Al A’ridi (information), Neyla Muawwad (social affairs), Dr. Khaled Kabbani (education), Joe Sarkis (tourism), Dr. Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh (Health).
- University professors and researchers: Dr. Toufic Hindi (Lebanese University, Beirut), Dr. Charles Chartouni (Lebanese University, Beirut and Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA), Dr. Sami Nader (St. Joseph University, Beirut), Dr. Muna Fayad (Lebanese University, Beirut), Antoine Costantine (St. Joseph University, Beirut), Ziad Baroud (St. Joseph University, Beirut).
- Journalists and political analysts: Amin Kammuriyeh (An Nahar), Oukaab Saqr, George Nassif (An Nahar), Tony Francis (Al Balad), Bilal Khbayz (An Nahar), Rached Fayed, Jean Aziz (Al Balad), Bichara Charbel (Al Balad), Kassem Kassir (Al Mustaqbal), Johnny Munayar (Ad Diyar), Nasir Al Assaad (Al Mustaqbal), Saqr Abu Fakhr (Assafir and Journal of Palestinian Studies), Mohammad Salam, Nuhad Al Machnuq (Assafir), Ali Al Amine (Al Balad), Dr. Nassib Hoteyt, Sijaan Azzi, Ayman Jizzini, Joseph Abu Khalil, George Bashir, Dr. Kamel Wazneh, Ghayath Yazbeck, Gebran Bassil, Dr. Mohammad Mughrabi, Michel René Muawad, Ah’mad Al Ghozz, Jamil Mrueh (Daily Star).
- Experts in military strategy: Dr. Kamal Naji, General Weh’beh Katicha (retired Lebanese army general), Dr. Nizar Abdel Kader (retired Lebanese army general and journalist at Ad Diyar).
- Former MPs and ministers: Dr. Mohammed Abdel Hamid Baydoun, Nasser Kandil, Dr. Albert Mansour, Demyanos Kattar, Retired General Issam Abu Jamra, Edmond Rizk, Dr. Farès Souaid.
- Former Lebanese ambassadors: Dr. Riad Tabbarah (USA), Simon Karam (USA).
- Presidents of Political parties: Dory Chamoun (National Liberal Party), Roger Eddé (Assalam Party of Lebanon), Karim Pakradouni (Phalangist – Katai’b Party), Fuad Makhzumi (Lebanese Dialogue Party).
- Lebanese Presidential candidates: Dr. Chebli Mallat (University professor and author), Boutros Harb (MP).
7 April 2009, MTV is back and Dr. Ziad Noujeim rejoined the station to present Massa Al Hurriya, a weekly political talk show broadcasted each Wednesday, at 9:45 p.m., just after MTV News.
It was supervised by Ayman Jezzini, a Lebanese Journalist, Analyst and Writer; and also by Sheikh Khalil El Khazen, MTV Political Programs’ Manager.
Sheikh Khalil El Khazen with Dr. Ziad Noujeim.
Massa Al Hurriya was presented by Dr. Ziad Noujeim; produced by Rita E. Mansour as Senior Producer (a Printed Media Journalist), Lutecia Bouchabke and Nathalie Raheel El Khazen.
The program was directed by the Genius Director Bassem Christo.
Bassem Christo with MTV crew.All reports of Massa Al Hurriya episodes were executed by Jessica Azar, edited by Nadine Srour and reviewed by Directors Richard Salloum and Tony Zgheib.Massa Al Hurriya tackled hot and controversial Lebanese and Arab political topics (Doha agreement, Lebanese defense strategy and Hezbollah' weapons, Lebanese parliamentary law, Palestinian weapons in Lebanon, Detained Lebanese in Syrian Prisons, Lebanese Syrian relations, Consequences on 2009 Lebanese parliamentary elections, Al Taef agreement, etc…).
Massa Al Hurriya gathered, and for the first time in Arab country, twelve representatives of Lebanese (and Arab) political parties, each delegate being accompanied by his mini-think tank.
The show was of two hours duration, divided into four segments.
Massa Al Hurriya was a production signed Studiovision, the biggest and main comprehensive television compound in Lebanon in terms of production capacities and equipment, and almost certainly the most sophisticated in the Middle East in terms of qualified, competent and trained personnel.
Noujeim’s electronic mail is: ziadnari@hotmail.com
his mailing address is:
P.O.Box 166496 Ashrafieh,
Beirut 1100-2130, Lebanon.
References:
1- Simon Asmar, lebanese TV director, producer and impresario.
2- Antoine Kassabian, lebanese TV producer, media expert and former head of research and development at Arab Radio Television (ART), Avezzano, Italy.
3- Michel El Murr, CEO Murr Television (MTV), Beirut
4- Sleiman Abou Zeid, lebanese TV director and regional manager and executive producer at Al Hurra
5- Dr. Charles Chartouni, lebanese american scholar, university professor (Lebanese University – Beirut and Georgetown University-Washington, DC, USA) and media critic
6- Dr. Adib Farha, political analyst and media commentator on major lebanese and US TV networks
7- (Miss) Janane Mallat, lebanese TV journalist and producer
8- Adel Malek, lebanese/british journalist-broadcaster and media expert (based
in London, UK)
9- Debbie Bodlander, Middle East Consultant, former producer and guest booker at Al Hurra TV and former senior advisor for the US Congress – House of Representatives Committee on International Relations (based in Washington, DC, USA)
N.B.: Three Arab journalists and TV critics and one American scholar contributed to Noujeim’s biography (updated in March 2010).
They chose to remain anonymous.
