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MARCEL GHANEM
on the MEDIA
It was a great pleasure for the NDU Public Relations Class to host the wellknown
TV personality Mr. Marcel Ghanem, host of the popular LBCI
talk-show.
Dr. Joe Ajami, Mr. Suheil Matar, Marcel Ghanem and student representatives.
Marcel Ghanem with students of the PR Class.
He delighted his audience of NDU
students, staff and academics with a
talk given in Friends Hall at midday
on 12th December, 2002.
Proceedings opened with the
National Anthem, followed by some
words of introduction. Then Mr.
Suheil Matar, NDU Director of
Public Relations, welcomed the
guest, insisting on his reputation for
frankness, boldness and a unique
personal manner.
Mr. Marcel Ghanem began by insisting
on the important influence of the
media in forming public opinion and
causing political movement and
then spoke of the prevailing situation
in this field. He suggested that
there had been considerable
favouritism in the granting of
licences and expressed the view that
politicians should not be shareholders
in media companies as this affected
their independence. Mr. Ghanem
admitted the existence of a gulf separating
young people from the
media as they felt a lack of impartiality
in the reporting, for example, of
student demonstrations.
He spoke of the need to free the
media from the pressure of politicians
and the security authorities
and to make changes in the in the
law concerning them, for which he
placed responsibility on the shoulders
of the country’s youth.
Discussion with the audience then
covered such questions as the Syrian
presence, military service and media
support in the question of the closing
down of MTV.
14 NNU SPIRIT