Zaven Kouyoumdjian

Zaven Kouyoumdjian (Armenian: Զաւէն Գույումճեան; Arabic: زافين قيومجيان‎) is a well-known Lebanese talk show host, producer and television personality of both Armenian and Lebanese descent. He is also a media consultant and author of a best selling book "Lebanon Shot Twice"[1]. Zaven launched a new television talk show "Bala Toul Sire" in November 2014 that is said to reshape the television talk show experience in Lebanon.[2][3][4]

Zaven Kouyoumdjian
Born
Zaven Ardashes Kouyoumdjian

(1970-05-15) 15 May 1970
Beirut, Lebanon
EducationArmenian Evangelical College
Alma materNotre Dame University, Lebanese American University
OccupationTelevision presenter, Writer, Journalist
Years active1992–present
EmployerFuture Television (1999-present), Télé Liban (1992-1999)
TelevisionBala Toul Sire, AalAkid, Ana Ala'an, Siré Wenfatahit, "5/7"
Spouse(s)Laury Haytayan
Children2
Parent(s)Ardashes Kouyoumdjian and Souad Kaadi
Websitehttp://www.zavenonline.com/

Zaven is married to Laury Haytayan and has two sons BORN IN 2003 and 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.[5]

Education

Zaven holds a master's degree in Communication Arts, a discipline concerned with advertising and media, from the Notre Dame University (NDU) in Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon. He earned his bachelor's degree in Communication (Journalism - Radio, TV & Film) from the Lebanese American University in Beirut.[6] He initially enrolled (1988) 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 knowing that Lebanese Armenians were stereo-typically known to be weak in Arabic and journalism in Lebanon was mainly in the Arabic language and was then associated with war coverage only. Zaven was not discouraged and continued his major, focusing on TV journalism while taking private lessons in Arabic. He participated in international workshops and trainings adding a twist to his career.[7]

Career
Mr. Zaven Kouyoumdjian during one of his episodes at the Future Television studios

In 1992, he joined Télé Liban as a news reporter and late-night news anchor. Soon afterwards, he became Télé Liban’s face for news through its promotional campaign Aban An Jad, by Saatchi & Saatchi . In 1994, he was assigned to be TL'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. Within the show's first year, Zaven was making headlines through the controversial issues he investigated, such as the toxic wastes scandal, the Israeli kidnapping of Mustafa Dirani, and the ban of the Lebanese Forces."5/7" became Télé Liban's longest running talk show in the 1990s, scoring the highest rating for a single talk show episode in 1996.

During his coverage of the Israeli Operation Grapes of Wrath offensive on South Lebanon in 1996[8], Zaven rose to prominence as he brought the horrifying footage of the Israeli massacres at the Qana and Mansouri villages to global attention.[9]

In 1999, and during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, the pro-Syrian government under Selim Hoss banned 5/7 from airing on Télé Liban. Zaven shaved his head as an expression of protest[10].

Seven months later, Zaven moved to Future Television, a television broadcasting network owned by former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. He started his own show, “Siré Wenfatahit,” which quickly became the highest rated talk show in the Middle East, according to Pan-Arab IPTV network Talfazat-ART. 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 "Nisrine Jaber Book Club".[11]

Zaven often opened his show as a platform for political and social activism. “An episode of talk show Sireh w’infatahit aired by Future TV on December 19th 2005 had the presenter Zaven Kouyoumdjian offer to bring members of the opposition and Hizbolla to the studio to air their views and reach a common ground”.[12]

In 2005, Zaven was named by Newsweek magazine in 2005 as one of the 43 most influential people in the Middle East.

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. This series is credited to be the first recognition of emerging online media and the power of youth to achieve change. Zaven ended his 13-year-long show "Sire Wenfatahit" in July 15, 2012, in a special series of countdown episodes.

In August 2012, Zaven kicked off his show AalAkid on Future TV, a collaboration with director Bassem Christo and French producer Péri Cochin through their production house Periba. The show was a Lebanese adaptation of the popular French show Sans aucun doute, presented by Julien Courbet daily on TMC. AalAkid was received by critics and viewers with enthusiasm, as it reshaped the Lebanese social talk show experience and established new foundations for conflict resolution through media. The show gained quick appreciation as a new style in addressing social issues on Lebanese television.

In 2012, Zaven signed his second book with Dr Dolly Habbal, “Witness on Society” in Beirut Book fair. (Publishers: Academia).

In October 2014, Zaven launched his talk show “Bala Toul Sire” that continues his run on Future Television, with episodes about life, society and people in the form of a live weekly magazine, covering different topics stemming from current headlines or the unreported margins.

Awards And Honors

Kouyoumdjian is one of the most celebrated TV and media personalities in the Arab World. He has been at the center of most honorary and award ceremonies for the media professions and disciplines. In 1996, he received the Honorary Shield from the Lebanese Press Syndicate for his efforts in the live media coverage of the massacre during the 1996 shelling of Qana, a part of the Israeli Operation Grapes of Wrath.

Kouyoumdjian came into the spotlight again in 1997 when he was awarded the second prize by the Commission on Sustainable Development, a framework of the United Nation, for his significant work in promoting development-related social issues in his show '5/7'. That same year, he was also awarded the Honorary Key of the city by the municipality of Bourj Hammoud, an Armenian stronghold in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate.

In 2002, Kouyoumdjian won the Arab Media prize at a ceremony in London by the College of the International United Kingdom for his efforts in promoting dialogue on social and communal issues in the Middle East. He also received, in 2002, the award for the "Best Social Talk Show" in the annual Media Festival held by the Lebanese University, the largest university system in Lebanon. He won the same award again in 2006.

In 2008, he won the "Student Choice Award" for the best social talk show in the all-star student ceremony of the Lebanese American University held at the Unesco Palace in Beirut. In 2010, Zaven received the award for "Best Social Talk Show" in the third annual Arab Youth Media Forum held in Amman, Jordan. During the ceremony of the Pan Arab Web Awards in 2011, Kouyoumdjian received the prestigious "Outstanding Life Achievement Award" on the occasion of the ten-year anniversary of 'ZavenOnline.com'.

Kouyoumdjian was honored in 2012 by the Lebanese State Alumni Community (LSAC) with one of its yearly five annual prizes, for his “great achievement in promoting freedom of speech and the values of democracy and human rights through his social talk shows”. In 2013, he won the award for "Best Official Website of a Television Show" for his website 'ZavenOnline.com' during the Lebanon Web Competition (LWAC). Zaven was a guest speaker and panelist in the 2013 Government Communication Forum (GCF) held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The GCF gathered more than 1500 senior executives, prominent media figures, communication specialist, and senior government officials from the region. The forum acknowledged Kouyoumdjian's role in bridging the gap between social media and TV.[13] In the same year, Zaven won the Golden Shield award of the Arab Social Responsibility Organization in a grand ceremony in Dubai. He later won the same award in 2014 for the second consecutive year.

In 2015, Zaven was honored with the prestigious Murex d'Or award for Best Media Personality 2015 in appreciation for his distinguished life achievements.[14] Also that year, Kouyoumdjian was granted the Certificate of Appreciation of the Arab Federation for Youth and Environment, a chapter within the Arab League, for being the guest of honor at the Closing Ceremony of the Arab Environment Forum at Jinan University in Tripoli. In December 2015, Zaven was granted AlHaitham Award 2015 for Arab distinction during the seventh edition of the Arab Media Youth Forum in Amman – Jordan.

In 2016, Zaven was honored with the Lebanese Franchise Association's 10th anniversary token of appreciation and recognition for his contribution in shaping Lebanon's collective memory. The grand ceremony was held Thursday on May 19, 2016 at BIEL – Beirut, in the presence of senior government officials, the private sector, Arab retailers, entrepreneurs and the media. Zaven was honored for his book “Lebanon shot Twice” for the inspiration it brought to help the Lebanese society cope with the pains of the civil war. LFA president Charles Arbid said that this book presents the fighting soul of the Lebanese people to rebuild their country and re-embrace life. He added that Zaven's book has contributed in shaping the war related collective memory today and for generations to come.

Honors and Rankings
  • Ranked third in the Top 5 list of Lebanon's best talk show hosts - Lebanese National Council of Audio-Visual Media survey in the year 2000
  • Named by Newsweek as one of the 43 most influential figures in the Arab World for the year 2005
  • Honored by the municipality of Ghazir town in Keserwan District in Mount Lebanon in a ceremony along with nine of its notables for their live achievements and good will
  • Ranked among the Top 5 list of the Emirati "Zahret El Khalij" magazine's annual best Arab talk show hosts list in 2009 and 2010
  • Was part of the jury of the 11th Annual National Speech Competition, organized by LAU and the English Speaking Union in Lebanon
  • Ranked number three on the “30 Most Influential People on Twitter in Lebanon” list created by 2famous.tv. (Based on Tweet Grader) in 2012
  • Named Best Media Personality on Social Media at the Social Responsibility Awards – Beirut 2013 (SMA) poll in 2013
  • Murex-D'or 2015 best media personality 2015.
  • AlHaitham Award 2015 for Arab distinction during the seventh edition of the Arab Media Youth Forum in Amman – Jordan.
  • The Lebanese Franchise Association's 10th anniversary token of appreciation and recognition for his contribution in shaping Lebanon's collective memory.

Publications
  • “Lebanon Shot Twice” is a best seller book since 2003. A second edition of the book was issued in 2005, and a third in 2009. This trilingual (Arabic / English / French) gift book contains a collection of photos of people and places taken during the Lebanese civil war (1975 – 1990) in a before and after format. The stories accompanying the photos tell the inspiring stories of the victims and survivors of Lebanon's 15-year-long war. The book was the culmination of Kouyoumdjian's teenage hobby of collecting newspaper and magazine cutouts. After decades of collecting pictures and photographs, Zaven went out on a two-year quest of searching for the locations and people featured in these pictures. He documented the change they went through nearly a decade and half after the end of the civil war. Zaven described his books as neither a war book nor a history book, but a documentation and retelling of personal stories through a chaotic period of time. The book was launched in huge exhibitions and books signings in several cities including Dubai, Amman, Manama, and Kuwait City.[15]
  • ”Witness on Society” (Arabic – published by Academia 2012) is based on a decade long television social talk show experience between Future TV and Tele Liban. Zaven and coauthor, clinical psychologist Dr Dolly Habbal, come together to offer a guide to life, body, soul and society. The 700-page book comes as a manual for families and individuals to better understand their psychological, sexual, and social issues in a simplified manner. It features real-life stories and narrations from viewers who live those issues and shared them on television. The book spans an expansive array of topics including depression, trauma, anxiety, sexual identity issues, sexual harassment, emotional and social intelligence, marital relations, spinsterhood, and suicide, among many others.[16]
  • ”Asaad Allaho Massakoum” (Arabic – by Hachette Antoine 2015) is Zaven's third book. It documents the greatest golden age moments and milestones of Lebanese television between 1959 and 1990. The book covers three decades of Lebanese entertainment, pop culture and historical events as they happened on Lebanese television. Those events not only made Lebanese pop culture but also shaped Lebanon and pushed its cultural and social boundaries.[17][18]
  • "Lebanon on Screen" (English – by Hachette Antoine 2016) documents the landmark moments and milestones of Lebanese television. Inspired by his previous publication in Arabic, this first-of-its-kind English book aims to present Lebanese television and pop culture to the world. "Lebanon on Screen" was published by Hachette Antoine and Alba University, with the collaboration of the United States Embassy in Lebanon. http://www.lebanononscreen.com
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See also

References
  1. "Revisiting the war of 1975... Let us not forget". L'Orient-Le Jour. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  2. Lebanon Shot Twice
  3. Aal Akid Archived April 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Elnashra,"عل أكيد يعود بموسمه الثاني مع زافين.. قضايا مختلفة وضحايا جدد" January 24, 2014
  5. Fanoos Encyclopedia "Zaven Kouyoumdjian"
  6. "GraphYard"
  8. "Zaven Kouyoumdjian. L'enfant terrible de la télévision". Magazine Le Mensuel. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  9. Harb, Z., ["Covering the Qana 'Massacre' 1996: A Case of Contextual Objectivity"], Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication, 1 (2008)
  10. "Zaven Kouyoumdjian". fanoos.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  11. Sakr, Naomi, ["Arab Television Today"] (London: I.B. Tauris, 2007) p. 53,160
  12. Khatib, L. "Television and Public Action in the Beirut Spring" Archived February 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (Stanford, 2007), p.21
  13. http://sgci.ae/Portal/en/media-centre/news/25/2/2013/experts-define-strategic-communication-pillars-at-government-communication-forum-2013.aspx
  14. https://rinnoo.net/en/article/famous/2015/06/04/2984/2015-murex-dor-award-winners/nc
  15. http://www.lebanonshottwice.com/en/thebook.html
  16. http://zavenonline.info/a-witness-on-the-society.php?lang=en
  17. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/magda-abufadil/good-evening-tele-libans_b_7811568.html
  18. http://magazine.com.lb/index.php/fr/culture/livres-?issue_id=189
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