Paula Yacoubian

Paula Yacoubian (born Paulette Siragan Yaghobian on April 4, 1976) is a Lebanese politician[1] and law-maker of Armenian ethnic origins from her father's side. She was previously known as a journalist and a television host. She is one of Lebanon’s most prominent television personalities.[2] Throughout her career, she had worked as a host in a number of Lebanese and pan-Arab international television stations. Known for the transformational impact she's had in her organizations and the broader community, Paula became one of the experts chosen by the World Bank group as a member of their 'External Advisory Panel for Diversity and Inclusion' as a result of her advocacy for women's rights,[3] her efforts for women empowerment,[3] as well as for being a fierce defender of electoral women quota and a fairer electoral law in Lebanon.

Paula Yacoubian
Born
Paulette Siragan Yaghobian

(1976-04-04) 4 April 1976
Beirut, Lebanon
NationalityLebanese
OccupationPolitician

Journalist & Television Host

Member of the Lebanese Parliament
Years active1995–present
Known forEcological Activist

Women's rights

Women Empowerment
Political partyTahalof Watani (“My Nation’s Coalition”)

In 2018, she announced her candidacy for the 2018 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections, running for the Armenian Orthodox seat in the Beirut I constituency.[4] She was officially announced as a winner following the elections which took place on Sunday 6 May 2018.[5] On 8 August 2020, she resigned along with other members of her party and called for a new government after the 2020 Beirut explosions.[6]

Career

Yacoubian started work in June 1995 in ICN (Independent Communications Network), a Lebanese television station founded by Henri Sfeir. Through Sfeir's encouragement, who also had the license for Nida' al Watan newspaper, the then 19-year-old Yacoubian became a celebrity broadcasting news and interviews and appeared frequently in the news broadcasts of the station. She was later assigned as head of the station's regional and international news department and had her own talk news program, Al Sulta al Raabi'a (in Arabic السلطة الرابعة meaning the Fourth Power).

After closure of ICN, Yacoubian moved to LBCI through the station's morning show Nharkon Saeed (in Arabic نهاركم سعيد, meaning Good Morning) in addition to presenting the news on the channel's international satellite broadcasts. Then she moved to the Lebanese station MTV where she presented the programme Min al Akhar (in Arabic من الأخر). She later worked in Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) where she presented a number of programmes on the satellite station's various channels ART al Awael, ART al Munawwaat and ART al Aalamiyyah. Various programmes Yacoubian hosted on ART included Ded al Tayyar (ضد التيار), Liqaa' Khass (لقاء خاص), Roui'ya Waadiha (رؤية واضحة) and Liqaa' min America (لقاء من أمريكا). She moved to Alhurra television based in the United States where her husband Muwaffak Harb ran the pro-American news channel.

Returning to Lebanon, Yacoubian worked in Future TV where she hosted the news talk show Inter-views. She interviewed Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia[2] in a significant live broadcast direct from Riyadh after Hariri presented his resignation from the Saudi capital amidst rumors about his actual conditions in Saudi Arabia. This interview served in dispelling grave concerns about his status in Saudi Arabia, and included the announcement of his return to Lebanon.

As a humanist/social activist, always advocating on behalf of the less privileged, Paula was successful in launching “Dafa Campaign”, one of the largest and most successful donation campaigns in Lebanon and the Middle East for the second year in a row. "Dafa Campaign" has reached 14,800 underprivileged families in Lebanon in November 2015, 43,000 families in December 2016, and more than 100,000 in 2017.

Paula also offers 15 scholarships for students with outstanding performance who cannot afford their school tuition. On the professional side, Mrs. Yacoubian is also the CEO and General Manager of "Integrated Communications", a company specialized in communications strategy and media relations, as well as public speaking training.[7] She is a certified trainer who attended several training courses and workshops in the US and has a degree in Administration & Political Science. She has been involved with political journalism since the beginning of her career at the age of 17. Yacoubian hosted shows on ICN, LBC, MTV, ART and Future TV. She has interviewed many of the world leaders and personalities and held town hall discussions and debates.

Yacoubian joined efforts with social activists and is running for the Lebanese parliamentary elections that were held in May 2018. On May 7, 2018, she was the first Armenian woman to win a seat in the lebanese parliament.[8] Following the 2020 Beirut explosions, she resigned along with two other members of the Kataeb Party on 8 August 2020.[9]

Last but not least, Paula, an ongoing enthusiast for ecology, has been actively raising awareness and participating in events of up-cycling for environmental sustainability. She has also launched projects and actively organized and participated in events and sea-diving clean-up campaigns.

Personal life

Paula Yacoubian is divorced and has a 14-year-old son, named Paul. She is of Armenian descent and is the daughter of an Armenian Genocide survivor.

Awards

Yacoubian received many awards throughout her career, and in August 2017 she received a prominent award "Officier De L'Ordre de la Couronne" (Officer of the Order of the Crown) from King Philippe I of Belgium, in reward for all the work she has carried out.

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References
  1. "Politician Paula Yacoubian says she risks her life fighting Lebanese corruption and garbage crisis". Euronews. 13 September 2019.
  2. "Leading media figure Paula Yacoubian, a new face in Lebanon's parliament | Samar Kadi". AW. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  3. "Paula Yacoubian: "I'm at war for women's rights" - Vittoria Ferrero". An-Nahar. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  4. "NAYA | Q&A with Paula Yacoubian: A maverick out to shake up the parliament - Paula Naoufal". An-Nahar. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  5. Beirut, By Nohad Topalian in. "Lebanese TV presenter takes up seat in parliament". Al-Mashareq. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  6. "Lebanese government in crisis as ministers resign after blast". The Washington Post. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  7. "Paula Yacoubian - Prestige Magazine". Prestige Magazine. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  8. "No "Velvet Revolution" for Lebanese Armenians". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  9. "Lebanon's Kataeb Party says its three MPs resigning from parliament in wake of Beirut blast". August 8, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
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