“Lebanon Debate”
At a time when the Lebanese media is experiencing one of its most difficult stages, between stifling financial crises, sharp political divisions, and the loss of professional identity in many institutions, it seems that businessman Omar Harfouche decided to embark on a different adventure within the “Nidaa Al-Watan” newspaper, the title of which is rebuilding the newspaper on modern foundations, benefiting from his long experience in the European media, and trying to transfer this model to Lebanon.
According to information from “Lebanon Debate,” Harfouche does not deal with “Call of the Nation” as a mere passing media investment, but rather as a project through which he wants to leave an actual mark on the Lebanese media scene, by developing form and content together, and restoring consideration to the concept of the paper newspaper as a space for analysis, depth, and visual identity, and not just a platform for transmitting daily news.
The information confirms that the man has been leading a daily workshop within the newspaper for weeks, which includes reorganizing the editorial, developing covers and artistic direction, controlling financial performance, and establishing a less stressful and more professional media approach, based on the experience he accumulated during his years of media work in Europe, where journalistic institutions are built on professionalism, deep content, and professional competition, not on chaos or personal campaigns.
According to the atmosphere surrounding the workshop, Harfouche’s goal is not limited to saving “Call of the Nation” administratively and financially, but rather goes beyond it to try to present a different model in the Lebanese media, based on modernity, organization, and openness, at a time when the media sector seems to be in dire need of new experiences that will restore to it part of its lost role and influence.
“Lebanon Debate” information revealed a broad reform workshop within the newspaper that began by addressing what was described as “editorial chaos,” where work was done to reorganize the entire structure of the issue within a dynamic that takes into account the reader’s experience within the paper newspaper.
Harfouche starts from a vision that considers that the paper newspaper is not a website that publishes news moment by moment, but rather a space for analysis and interpretation and providing integrated and organized content to the reader, which prompted the launch of a comprehensive reformulation of the method of preparing the daily issue.
In the same context, the information confirms that the reform process was not easy, but rather faced internal resistance at the beginning, before workers gradually began to adapt to the new method and new work mechanisms.
As for the administrative level, information indicates that an extensive internal review was conducted within the newspaper, which included checking the number of employees and journalists and the actual volume of production for each of them, to discover that a number of workers do not provide production commensurate with what they are paid.
According to the data, a number of people were laid off, including some affiliated with supporting parties within the institution itself, in a step aimed at enshrining the principle of equality within the restructuring process and preventing any accusations of favoritism or discretion.
The reforms also included reorganizing salaries, expenses, and the mechanism for contracting with writers. New controls were imposed regarding the number of articles paid weekly, and linking the continuation of cooperation to the amount of actual added value provided by the writer or journalist.
On the editorial side, information from “Lebanon Debate” reveals that the newspaper has recently tended to stop the policy of systematic attacks on a number of media and political figures and entities, and to adopt a calmer and deeper approach in dealing with the files.
According to the information, the new trend within “Call of the Nation” is based on moving away from personal campaigns or “negative propaganda,” and focusing instead on political and professional treatment based on facts and analysis.
The newspaper also witnessed radical changes at the level of covers and artistic direction, as a new approach was adopted based on building a visually cohesive cover, with the use of thoughtful images and clear, direct titles that reflect the content of the issue and give the reader a more professional visual experience.
Information indicates that work on the cover is being done within an integrated vision that aims to create an actual connection between the main title and the materials published within the issue, thus restoring the paper newspaper to its visual identity and traditional impact.
In the context of editorial development as well, the information speaks of a trend to expand the space for exclusive interviews with political figures from various Lebanese trends, without exception, within the framework of a new media openness policy that aims to give space to all influential forces on the Lebanese scene.
As for the press image level, the information confirms that there is a focus on improving the quality of the images used within the newspaper, and moving away from the traditional, rigid images that are frequently used, in favor of more vibrant images and an artistic character that reflects a modern visual identity for the newspaper.
The information adds that the prevailing conviction within the new administration is that Lebanon, in light of its political and economic crises, needs professional and responsible media that contributes to protecting stability and democratic life, instead of perpetuating divisions and open media conflicts.
