Zaven Kouyoumdjian

Zaven Kouyoumdjian (Arabic زافين قيومجيان, in Armenian Զաւէն Գույումճեան) is a well known Lebanese talk show host of both Armenian and Lebanese descent. His show, Sirée Wenfatahet (Arabic سيرة وانفتحت), is one of the highest rated in the Middle East.^{[citation needed]} Zaven is married to Laury Haytayan and has two children, Marc (2003) and Ara (2007).

Early years

Zaven was born in Beirut on May 15, 1970 to Ardashes Kouyoumdjian and Souad Kaadi. He received his primary and secondary education at the Armenian Evangelical College in Beirut.

In 1988, he entered the Lebanese American University as a Business Administration major, but his love for journalism gave him the courage to transfer to Communication Arts. His parents were not supportive at first because they felt that he would have a hard time finding a job because Lebanese Armenians were stereotypically known to be weak in Arabic and journalism in Lebanon was mainly in the Arabic language and was then associated with war coverage only. He was not discouraged and continued his major, focusing on TV journalism while taking private lessons in Arabic. He graduated with a BA in Communication Arts with honors.

Career

In 1992, he joined Télé Liban as a reporter and late-night news anchor. Soon afterwards, he became Télé Liban’s news correspondent at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. He started his first weekly talk show, "5/7" in 1995, and his investigative journalism made him a household name in Lebanon. The controversial issues he investigated, such as the dumping of toxic wastes, the Israeli kidnapping of Mousafa Aldirani and the ban of the Lebanese Forces, made headline news. He was often interrogated by the then Syrian-controlled government. Despite the Syrian-controlled government’s attempt to censor and even ban his program, he continued to produce his show. "5/7" became Télé Liban's longest running talk show in the 1990s and scored the highest rating for a single talk show episode in 1996. During his coverage of the Israeli "Grapes of Wrath" offensive on South Lebanon, Zaven did not hide his emotions as he brought the horrifying footage of the Israeli massacres at Qana and Mansouri villages to the world. The Syrian-controlled government was finally able to ban his show from airing on Télé Liban in 1998. Zaven shaved his head as an expression of protest. Seven months later, he moved to Future Television and started his new show, “Siré Wenfatahit,” which quickly became one of the most popular talk shows in the Arab world. In 2004, Zaven convinced four HIV positive individuals to appear on his show about life after AIDS and discrimination. This was the first time that HIV positive individuals appeared on any Arab channel without covering their faces. Also in 2004, he published his first book, Lebanon Shot Twice. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey, he launched the first Arab television book club, the "Nesreen Jaber Book Club". Zaven launched a new series, called Ana Ala'an (meaning Me Now) in 2006. The series aimed at giving the chance for Arab youth to express their thoughts and feelings on TV using their personal camera.

Awards

• His live coverage of the “Grapes of Wrath” won him the prestigious Honors Certificate of the Lebanese Press Order, establishing him as one of Lebanon’s leading TV journalists.
• In 1997, he received the Appreciation Certificate of the United Nations Development Program for Sustainable Development for his work in "5/7".
• The municipality of Bourj Hammoud granted him the honorary key of the city in 1997.
• In 2002, he received Arab Media Award 2002 of the UK International College – London for “his efforts in creating a Pan Arab dialogue on social issues”.
• In 2002, he received best social talk show award of the Media Festival - Beirut which was organized by the Lebanese University.
• In 2005, Newsweek listed Zaven as one of 43 most influential people in the Arab World. http://www.zavenonline.com/newsweek_en.shtml
• In 2006, he won the best social talk show award of the fourth Media Festival - Beirut 2006 organized by the Lebanese University.
• In 2008, he won Student Choice Award for best social talk show.
• In 2009, he was honored by the municipality of Ghazir town in keserwan (Mount Lebanon)in a ceremony honoring the ten of its notables for their live achievements and good will.
• During his live show on the 21st of December 2010, Zaven received the best social talk show prize of the Arab Youth Media Forum 2010. The forum was held under the patronage of Jordanian prime minister in Amman, Jordan on the 6th of December

External links

• (Arabic) Official Website
• Zaven, The Official Fan Club