Raghida Dergham is a Lebanese-American journalist based in New York. She is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Beirut Institute and Columnist for The National. She served as Columnist, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, and New York Bureau Chief for the London-based Al-Hayat daily for 28 years. She is well-known internationally as a Middle Eastern female journalist, and has received awards for her career achievements. Dergham sees herself as an interpreter of the Middle Eastern and American cultures for her two audiences.
Early life
Raghida Dergham was born to Nabih and Bahia Dergham in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1953. Her family is Druze in religion. Dergham moved to the United States in 1970 when she was seventeen, and worked her way through college at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh where she studied creative writing and journalism, and graduated in 1974.
Career
Raghida Dergham began her career in journalism at the age of fifteen. She and her friend Hanan al-Shaykh, who is a Lebanese author, would publish their articles in the Beirut newspapers. Dergham published articles in al-Hasnaa and al-Anwar. Dergham was first hired professionally as a journalist in Boston, beginning her career in radio in 1974 and hosting a program Haneen, and from this start, she became a foreign correspondent in New York in 1976. In 1989, she joined Al-Hayat, an independent daily Arabic newspaper, and began to cover the United Nations. Dergham is now the senior diplomatic correspondent for Al-Hayat and she writes a weekly column on international political affairs. In addition to being a regular political commentator on CNN, she has made frequent appearances in other international TV and radio broadcast forums. Dergham's work has been featured in many major publications including: The New York Times, Washington Post, Gulf News, LA Times, Newsweek International, and several others. In 1997, she served as the president of the United Nations Correspondents Association. She was influenced by the interviewing style of Oriana Fallaci while rejecting her politics and views.
Notable journalism assignments
Raghida Dergham conducted an exclusive interview with Ramzi Youssef who was behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Dergham is known for her interviews of international leaders and public figures. She has interviewed many notable figures including:
Raghida Dergham was one of three Arab-Americans featured in the PBS documentary Caught in the Crossfire: Arab Americans in Wartime which aired on September 4, 2002.
Trial for treason
The Lebanese government suspended her Lebanese passport while she was in Beirut on assignment covering UN Secretary GeneralKofi Annan on 19 June 2000. Later, Lebanon said it had taken action as a result of a May 2000 panel discussion, in which Dergham participated, that included a representative from the Israeli government. The panel discussion was sponsored by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, D.C. Dergham was subsequently charged with "dealing with the enemy," a crime in Lebanon, and in June 2001 a trial was held in Lebanon. The Committee to Protect Journalists responded: "We view the treason case against Dergham as part of a pattern of state harassment intended to punish an independent journalist for doing her job. The government of Lebanon has shown contempt for press freedom and the free public debate that is essential in a democratic society. The charges should be dropped, and Dergham should be free to work without further harassment." Dergham responded to the verdict, "I've spent all my life explaining a point of view. When it's right, I defend it. I thought they would honor me. Instead, they put me in a military trial, charged me with 'dealing with the enemy,' which is treason. After they have annulled my passport. For what? For debating an Israeli within an open forum? It's like a knife over my head."
Awards
In 2017, she was named "Arab Woman of the Year" for her achievements in Journalism. Arabian Business named Dergham one of its 100 Most Powerful Arab Women in 2011 and 2016 issues. In 2010, the New Arab Woman Forum presented its award to her for being an "exceptional woman" and making a contribution to society. She received the 2005 NAAP-NY Achievement Award from the Network of Arab-American Professionals of New York to honor her professional integrity in journalism. Dergham is in SUNY's Hall of Fame as a distinguished alumna, and she received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from SUNY in 2003. She serves on the board for the International Women's Media Foundation. She is a member of the International Media Council of the World Economic Forum.
