[ad_1]
The acute economic crisis worsens day by day in Lebanon, to the point of pushing the owners of many professions to emigrate, as the media also took their part, and witnessed mass exits of television faces loved by the Lebanese viewer, and attached to their daily appearance on their small screen and in the news.
Giselle Khoury and Nadim Kutaish were the first remnants of the immigrant media to join the television channels outside of Lebanon. In recent weeks they have been joined by a long list of names who packed their bags and left their workplaces after many years of work. The main reason that prompted them to make such a decision is one: to ensure a decent life. Their income has seen a notable decline in light of the drop in the exchange rate of the lira against the US dollar. And their salaries, which they were paid in hard currency, receive half … and in Lebanese pounds, according to today’s issue of the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
Many prominent media professionals resigned, who referred them to their editors. And sacrificing more than 30 years of experience – more or less – was the only solution to overcome this crisis, according to the newspaper. As did Bassam Abu Zayd, Layal Al-Ekhtiar and Rima Assaf of the “L. SECOND. CI”, as well as George Eid and Diana Fakhoury of the station “MT in a”. Presenting his resignations, the former left Lebanon for Cyprus in order to ensure a peaceful life for his family. And the second decided to become “The Voice of Beirut”, to start a new career. Very few of this group of veterans were left in possession of their posts, expecting them to receive a tempting offer like their peers.
It is striking here that the owners of these stations do not set themselves up as a barrier to the desire of their media, but rather bless them for their decision. Then they leave them the opportunity to return to the embrace of their institutions. They view these outings as a temporary separation or a long-term vacation. Consequently, departures will be welcomed back to their previous headquarters in case their decisions change. As for the reason, according to Al-Sharq al-Awsat, it is that the media understand the emigration of their media, as most of them suffer great economic difficulties. This is because the decrease in the percentage of ads caused a significant decrease in your earnings. To preserve your face, try to get through this period with as little loss as possible. While some resorted to political funds under the heading of “support me, I support you”, to survive and continue.
Layal Al-Ekhtiar, who said goodbye to his followers in news bulletins and political programs on the LL channel. SECOND. C. Which ones. “Finally, Asharq Al-Awsat met with her and Layal explained that” Local television stations generally suffer from financial crises that negatively affect their workers. Working conditions under many pressures create frustration in the media. Personally, I made the decision to quit my job and dedicate myself to my little family, even before I received an offer from Al Hurra TV. I was tired and my professional life was turning in a difficult cycle that made me lose focus on other things in my life. . All this anxiety that I was experiencing prompted me to accept the offer, and why not? Especially since I will work in “Al Hurra” in my country, Lebanon. He added: “There is a great feeling of sadness that invades us as means of communication, especially when you see professional colleagues say goodbye to you and leave for a new destination. “This void that they leave behind, especially since most of them are competent in working with the media, gene bitterness in our hearts. Personally, I fear that the media arena will empty itself of its leaders day after day. There is admiration for the Lebanese journalist because he carries out his work in a professional manner and has extensive social and political baggage, which is only owned by those who have experienced accumulated crises like us. However, in my opinion, there is an intellectual bankruptcy that we suffer, which precedes the material bankruptcy that some believe is the main cause of this migration. We are losing a lot of energy that we need, since today’s journalist is not like the one who preceded him with his profession ”.
Layal is excited about the choice to carry out her new mission, as host of a political program on the channel “Al-Hurra” from her headquarters in Lebanon. Here he comments: “I thought about it carefully before taking this step, but in the end I found several positive aspects that add to the fact that I remain in my country and it provides me with a good income. It will take me to a broader field of dialogue that affects many Arab countries, so my field is not narrow, turning within the small details that we are used to in our local programs.
The “password” that leads many media professionals to abandon their sites is “fresh money” (the financial factor). The only thing that is talked about is adequate offers, and others that open up wide areas in which the material element continues to be the base, and plays the most important role in their decisions to migrate or work in stations financed from abroad. The economic situation in Lebanon has accelerated the spread of the phenomenon. The one who had the opportunity and received the required offer left and did not return. As for those who remained in their workplace due to their inability to obtain better opportunities, they received moral compensation from their administration. In fact, some broadcasters have created new programs on their screens to elevate the status of news correspondents to enter the political dialogue game through its wide door.
Channel «New TV. In. “For example, it has created a daily program that broadcasts every afternoon entitled” Here Beirut “that allowed a large number of its correspondents to go from direct transmission on the ground to conducting political dialogues with their guests inside the studio . And on the channel «L. SECOND. C. Which ones. “The same issue followed: elements of the new media, represented by a series of news correspondence, entered the line of the morning political talk show” Happy Day. “T. in a”. Through the “Beirut News” program, which is in the same category.
Here, Diana Fakhoury, MT news anchor in a “. The one preparing to work in another media building,” Sawt Beirut, “explains,” This kind of compensation does not tempt me, as I do not seek fame or propagation after all the media experiences I’ve had. Because I can’t do any media release for the “MT in a”. Or others without a proper physical encounter. And my decision to move to a new media building is motivated by the change and development of my profession. “Certainly the material element plays an important role in light of the economic crisis we are experiencing, but my situation is different … All I want is a secure future,” he added. In Lebanon, there are no longer broad horizons in which we can move as journalists. Today I have two different offers, one of which is the “Voice of Beirut” website, and the other is for a local channel … But I won’t make my final decision until I study them carefully. “On the other hand, Fakhoury admits that media professionals no longer have a place in Lebanon. He painfully says: “Most of the workers are not professional … neither objective nor professional. Some of them use the media for personal use. The harsh conditions they applied to us contributed to building a sophisticated and objective media perspective … but today we are losing them. The greatest danger in the practices of media institutions comes from rapidly opening the field of access to the new generation. Here, it should be noted that one One of the Lebanese media professionals who will join the visual website “Voice of Beirut”, in addition to his basic work in his positions, he is the announcer of news bulletins at LL SECOND. C. Which “. Mario Abboud and Al-Jadeed TV host Tony Khalifa
However, one of the most notable transfers was the transfer of journalist Bassam Abu Zeid, one of the well-known faces on the screen in Lebanon, left by «L. SECOND. C. Which ones. “To the” Al-Hadath “channel in Dubai. Abu Zayd left a 30-year journalistic story behind him to join his new assignment. During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he said:” As for me , my decision to leave “L. SECOND. C. What”. It was difficult for me … like leaving the house that had grown in its shadows. However, several reasons motivated me to do so, including the tense economic situation in Lebanon, which negatively affected the provision of the living necessities of my family. Also, the media experience I had through this presentation was enough to push me to make my decision to leave Lebanon for Dubai. Here, the job prospects for me are increasingly wide and take a different direction in the media that broadens my experiences and allows me to do my work from a different angle, not local. I look forward to this movement from different angles, and not from a door that concerns me alone. The UAE is a country of opportunity, and this may reflect positively on my children in the future, and they will settle for their part in it, if they receive suitable job offers.
On the Lebanese media situation, which he left behind, Abu Zaid said he could not predict what the media arena will face in Lebanon in the near future. He continued: “It is directly related to the situation in Lebanon. As there is a decline we are witnessing in living and social standards, as well as in dialogue. In terms of funding sources, they are narrowing day by day, which will negatively affect the media, which, in my opinion, will face many problems in the future. Journalism in Lebanon has become difficult in light of the security and social chaos we are witnessing. Likewise, the media site has been threatened with slander and libel and even beatings, and no one will be held responsible. All of these issues push the media to stop there, and present their career options emotionally. Personally, I feel comfortable in my new job and in expanding my professional practice ”.
Source: Middle East
[ad_2]
