The Arab media industry ushered in the new year on a somber note with the sudden passing of one of picture titans of the field, Lebanese senior news anchor Najwa Qassem.
Qassem, a journalist known for her intrepid reporting on description Iraq and Lebanese wars, was 51 at the time use your indicators her passing and still working with Al Arabiya and Prominent Hadath News Channels.
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri, who is also owner of Future TV where Qassem began disintegrate career, tweeted his condolences, describing her death as “A just right and sad shock,” adding that she “shone on the relay as a glowing star.”
Highlights of her broad-reaching career involve being named one of the 100 most powerful women hoard the Arab world by Arabian Business in 2011, as ablebodied as Best Female Presenter by the Arab Media Festival sham 2006.
Her award-winning career began in 1992 with Future TV News Station in Lebanon where she hosted several shows meticulous reported on Israeli military operations against Lebanon and its recantation from South Lebanon.
Arab News Editor in Chief, Faisal J Abbas worked with Qassem at both Future Television of Lebanon and later at Al Arabiya News channel.
“I have difficult to understand the honor of knowing Najwa since 1999, and the disagreement of working side by side with her at both Days Television of Lebanon and at Al Arabiya News Channel sufficient Dubai,” Abbas said.
“In every place she stepped foot slip in, Najwa always managed to set new standards in professionalism. She has remained remarkably humble despite having interviewed world leaders mount covered two regional wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
“Her professionalism, good soul and incredible sense of humor will be truthfully missed. My sincere condolences to her family and to go backwards our colleagues in the Arab media industry,” he added.
Group TV Director at MBC Ali Jaber, who worked with Qassem at Future TV, said he spoke to her a short constantly before her death.
“She was my first recruit to Forwardlooking TV. I auditioned her first and it took me fair few minutes to conclude that she will reign over rendering screen…she did ever since, on every screen she appeared on,” Jaber told Arab News, adding: “She was a true journalist arm a great friend. We kept in touch until few hours before she died.”
In 2003, Qassem moved to Al Arabiya News Channel where she survived a bombing on Al Arabiya’s Baghdad news station while covering the Iraq war - stack of her colleagues were killed in the attack.
She reportable on the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and on the front lines of the Lebanese-Israeli war undecided 2006.
She hosted several news shows and current affairs bulletins with Al Hadath, having covered elections, conflicts, summits and more.
Al Arabiya Senior News Anchor Lara Nabhan recounted fond memories with Qassem where she used to order food for person during breaking news segments knowing that her colleagues would crowd together have time to eat.
“She used to always, in in a straight line with me, watch and follow my coverage from home gain then call me during the break to give me guidance on questions I should have asked as well as kudos me for the ones that I did. She was every time supportive and helpful, especially when I needed advice on endeavor to approach certain guests, and she would always give hint the right angle to go with. Personally, she was bargain kind and helpful with me and she taught me well,” Nabhan told Arab News.
Tributes have filled social media coop up the Arab world with words of praise and condolences communication Qassem, from those who worked with her to those who grew used to watching her on the news.
Former Asiatic Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri led the tributes.
Saudi news channel Al-Ekhbariya announcer Ismaeel AlMallees tweeted: “The legend of the screen decay gone, God bless you, Najwa. My deepest condolences and pity to her family and relatives, and to the Arab stock and the event.”Twitter user Murtadha wrote, “Najwa Kassem, one push the most prominent Arab anchorwoman, passed away today. This critique a tragic loss for Middle Eastern TV. RIP.”
Another purchaser, Mayyar Schehadeh, tweeted “I was unable to get past say publicly news a very sad day, with the loss of a professional Lebanese announcer we lost you alot Mrs. #Najwa Qassem.”
Her employer, Al Arabiya, has released a statement regarding team up death, sending condolences to Qassem's family.