Melhem Karam
{{Short description|Lebanese journalist (1932–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1932
| birth_place = Chouf, Lebanon
| death_date = 23 May {{Death year and age|2010|1932}}
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Journalist
| years_active = 1950s–2010
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| alma_mater = {{ubl|Saint Joseph University | Lebanese University}}
| spouse = Leila Mubarak
| children = 3
| parents = {{ubl|Karam Melhem Karam (father) | Emilie Asmar (mother)}}
| awards = {{ubl|Legion of Honor (France)|National Order of the Cedar (Lebanon)|National Order of Merit (France)}}
}}
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.{{cite news|title='Pillar of journalism' Melhem Karam dies at age 78|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%27Pillar+of+journalism%27+Melhem+Karam+dies+at+age+78.-a0227159534|work=The Daily Star|date=24 May 2010|access-date=6 May 2022}} His parents were Karam Melhem Karam, an author,{{cite journal|author=Amaya Martin|title=Islamic expressions in a Christian text: crossing the linguistic barriers between religions. A case study of Lebanon in the interwar period|journal=Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations|date=October 2010|volume=21
|issue=4|pages=385–396|doi=10.1080/09596410.2010.527106|s2cid=143656200}} and Emilie Asmar. They were Maronites. He had two sisters and a brother, Issam Karam (died March 2020), who was the head of Beirut Bar Association.{{cite news|author=Omar Jamal|title=Lebanon Mourns Former Head of Beirut Bar Association Issam Karam
|work=961|url=https://www.the961.com/lebanon-mourns-issam-karam/|access-date=30 October 2022|date=20 March 2020}}
Karam graduated from the Sagesse high school and then, studied law at the Saint Joseph University and at the Lebanese University.
Career
During his studies at the university Karam worked for different Lebanese newspapers and magazines.{{cite magazine|title=Interview with Melhem Karam|url=https://www.prestigemag.co/2014/09/melhem-karam/|date=October 2000|magazine=Prestige Magazine|issue=89}} In 1961 Karam was elected as the head of the Lebanese Journalists Union which he held until his death in 2010.{{cite book|page=72 |author=Sarah El-Richani|title=The Lebanese Media. Anatomy of a System in Perpetual Crisis|year=2016|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan
|location=New York|doi=10.1057/978-1-137-60183-4 |isbn=978-1-137-60183-4|url=https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60183-4}} He was also the vice president of the Arab Journalists' Federation and of the International Journalists' League.
Karam was the owner of the publishing house, Dar Alf Leila Wa Leila, which produced several publications,{{cite news|title=Melhem Karam passed away at 76|url=https://yalibnan.com/2010/05/22/melhem-karam-passed-away-at-76/|access-date=6 May 2022|work=Ya Libnan|date=22 May 2010}} including Arabic weekly magazine Al Hawadeth, Al Bayrak daily newspaper, La Revue du Liban magazine and Monday Morning magazine. He also served as the editor-in-chief of these publications. He made many interviews with leading politicians, including Hosni Mubarak, King Fahd and King Hussein.
=Books=
Personal life and death
Karam married Leila Mubarak with whom he had three children.{{cite book|title=Who's Who in Lebanon 2007-2008
|year=2007|publisher=Publitec Publications|location=Beirut|isbn=9783598077340|page=189|doi=10.1515/9783110945904|edition=19th |url=https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110945904 |editor-last1=Publitec Publications }} He died from a heart attack on 23 May 2010.
=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).
References
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Category:20th-century Lebanese journalists
Category:Saint Joseph University alumni
Category:Lebanese University alumni
Category:Lebanese newspaper publishers (people)
Category:People from Chouf District
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Honour
Category:Recipients of the National Order of the Cedar