Media

While walking in to meet her for coffee at the lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, I saw young girls peeping in from a distance, trying to see if their eyesight was failing them, too shy to walk up and introduce themselves. Excited, they were speaking to each other in Arabic, saying, “It’s Barbara Walters!” I smiled to myself, pleased that Walters was recognized by such a young generation of Syrians, who were never officially exposed to American television. I offered to introduce them to her; they declined, and confessed that they would look bad with their poor English. These young girls had grown up, however, at a time when satellite television and the internet were part of day-to-day life in Syria. They instantly recognized the face of Barbara Walters, a strong-minded and determined woman who has claimed a place for herself in the media world, with talent and character, since 1962. She is best known for morning television shows like Today, ABC’s evening news magazine 20/20, on which she worked as co-host for 25 years, “ABC World News Tonight,” and on her daily program “The View.”

From the wonders and spectacles of the Middle East, Hala Gorani brings the humane side of every story to light and puts the world’s greatest events in perspective. Based in Atlanta and endlessly lying from one place to another, 37- years old Gorani coanchors CNN International’s ‘Your World Today’ with Jim Clancy and hosts ‘Inside the Middle East’, a half-hour monthly program that features stories on the most important social and cultural is-sues in the region. She has lived and breathed the journalistic scene for well over a decade, making a name for herself through her neutral coverage of stories in a way that always touched viewers on different levels. From Beirut to Gaza, from Baghdad to Mecca, Gorani has reported from almost every country in the Middle East, and was one of the first television reporters on the air when al-Qaeda suicide bombers attacked hotels in Jordan in November 2005. As part of her anchoring duties, Gorani has interviewed some of the world’s most influential newsmakers from all walks of life, including Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri before his assassination in February 2005, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, Italian fashion designers Miucca Prada and Donatella Versace, as well as boxing heavyweight Evander Holyield. With the same passion that she has for her work, Gorani masters the art of living and leads a rich and exciting life. And while covering huge global stories, she relishes small pleasures, appreciates her family ties and has so much fun going out with her friends. Born in Seattle and raised in Paris, lived in Paris, you’d think her looks and blue eyes go back to her American or European ancestor, only that Gorani was born to Syrian parents who instilled in her family values and Middle Eastern norms that have become part of her identity. Charming when seen, inspiring when heard, brilliant on screen, gripping when read, exceptional and impossible to de-scribe in a paragraph or two, Gorani knows how to tell a story, making sure she covers the very many sides of it.

Hunting for fame, bigger audiences and better salaries, some of the potential stars of Syrian television have left for competing satellite channels. In order to keep their talented employees, the Syrian state owned channel faces challenges similar to those of the rest of the Syrian society.

“We offer full advertising services by internationally trained, locally ingrained staff who are now 25 strong,” says Krayem. “Our staff is entirely Syrian, and through mere chance, the company is a diverse blend from all over Syria. It really gives us a deeper insight into the Syrian psyche.”