Melhem Karam

Melhem Karam
Born1932
Chouf, Lebanon
Died23 May 2010 (aged 77–78)
Alma mater
OccupationJournalist
Years active1950s–2010
SpouseLeila Mubarak
Children3
Parents
  • Karam Melhem Karam (father)
  • Emilie Asmar (mother)
Awards

Melhem Karam (1932–2010) was a Lebanese writer and journalist who owned many publications, including Al Bayrak daily newspaper and Al Hawadeth weekly magazine. He was also the president of the Lebanese Journalists Union for nearly 50 years between 1961 and 2010.

Early life and education

Karam was born in Chouf, Deir al Qamar, in 1932.[1] His parents were Karam Melhem Karam, an author,[2][3] and Emilie Asmar.[1] They were Maronites.[3] He had two sisters and a brother, Issam Karam[1] (died March 2020), who was the head of Beirut Bar Association.[4]

Karam graduated from the Sagesse high school and then, studied law at the Saint Joseph University and at the Lebanese University.[1]

Career

During his studies at the university Karam worked for different Lebanese newspapers and magazines.[2] In 1961 Karam was elected as the head of the Lebanese Journalists Union[2] which he held until his death in 2010.[5] He was also the vice president of the Arab Journalists' Federation and of the International Journalists' League.[6]

Karam was the owner of the publishing house, Dar Alf Leila Wa Leila, which produced several publications,[7] including Arabic weekly magazine Al Hawadeth, Al Bayrak daily newspaper, La Revue du Liban magazine and Monday Morning magazine.[1] He also served as the editor-in-chief of these publications.[6] He made many interviews with leading politicians, including Hosni Mubarak, King Fahd and King Hussein.[2]

Books

Karam was the author of the following books: The Storm, A Thousand and One Nights and The Secrets.[1][8]

Personal life and death

Karam married Leila Mubarak with whom he had three children.[1][6] He died from a heart attack on 23 May 2010.[1]

Awards

Karam was the recipient of the following: Legion of Honor (France; 1985), National Order of the Cedar (Officer, 1987) and National Order of Merit (France; Officer, 1988).[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "'Pillar of journalism' Melhem Karam dies at age 78". The Daily Star. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Interview with Melhem Karam". Prestige Magazine. No. 89. October 2000.
  3. ^ a b Amaya Martin (October 2010). "Islamic expressions in a Christian text: crossing the linguistic barriers between religions. A case study of Lebanon in the interwar period". Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations. 21 (4): 385–396. doi:10.1080/09596410.2010.527106. S2CID 143656200.
  4. ^ Omar Jamal (20 March 2020). "Lebanon Mourns Former Head of Beirut Bar Association Issam Karam". 961. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  5. ^ Sarah El-Richani (2016). The Lebanese Media. Anatomy of a System in Perpetual Crisis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 72. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-60183-4. ISBN 978-1-137-60183-4.
  6. ^ a b c d Publitec Publications, ed. (2007). Who's Who in Lebanon 2007-2008 (19th ed.). Beirut: Publitec Publications. p. 189. doi:10.1515/9783110945904. ISBN 9783598077340.
  7. ^ "Melhem Karam passed away at 76". Ya Libnan. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Karam, Melhem 1938-". WorldCat. Retrieved 30 October 2022.