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Lebanon Opportunities: Getting data to life
by Rubina Abu Zeinab-Chahine| The Daily Star Many years ago Lebanese journalism had always maintained a “reputation for excellence” and accordingly had a luster as a center of journalism. Historically, Lebanon was the first country in the region to have newspaper publishing, where the first was published in 1858. In the first half of the 20th century, hundreds of newspapers were published across the country, giving Lebanon its unique role in bridging East and West and making the history of the Lebanese press surrounded by analysts all over the Middle East. Press Martyrs’ Day is an occasion that has been commemorated on May 6 in public and private spheres throughout the country for many decades to honor journalists and activists killed in the name of free speech. This occasion has always been a great opportunity to salute the Lebanese press and to praise the country’s media. It is a catalyst of hope to foster freedom and democracy and an eternal remembrance of journalists who sacrificed their lives for the country to survive and for the Lebanese people to live in peace. How did the Lebanese press assist the state in highlighting challenges and opportunities? Journalism in Lebanon has always been at the forefront of promoting social and political change. Twenty years ago Lebanon Opportunities, a leading business magazine, had “dreams abound of a modern country, fair to its citizens, hospitable to its returning or visiting expatriates and to tourists, enabling business to thrive and protecting the weak strata of its people” and committed itself to the “side of doers” as stated in the special anniversary issue of Lebanon Opportunities. For 20 years, Lebanon Opportunities published every month, a magazine about “what is working, how it is done, where the opportunities are and how to face obstacles,” as presented by its publisher and editor-in-chief, Ramzi el-Hafez. Few words say everything about the hard work that has been delivering optimism and investing in hope throughout the last two decades. The 20th anniversary issue takes us in a “journey” of fulfilling a national promise of progress and development, backed up by statistics, analyzed and visualized data, generating a story of social change with strong impact on engaging audiences and promoting civic activism. It compares in a real and figurative sense the situation at the time the magazine started in 1997 with today’s situation, highlighting major national achievements in addition to emphasizing measures of success and failure. |