Rani Raad: An Arab trailblazer in the media industry

Rani Raad OPED
An undated photo of Rani Raad. (Photo: CNN)
Rani Raad OPED

Khalid Dalal

Khalid Dalal is a former advisor at the Royal Hashemite Court, former director of media and communication at the Office of His Majesty King Abdullah, and works currently as a senior advisor for media, strategic communication, PR, speechwriting, international cooperation, marketing, business development, and fundraising locally, regionally, and globally. Email: [email protected] Tel: +962 777 682 766

The media industry has recently seen a pioneering leader bow out to pursue his impressive career somewhere else. Rani Raad concluded his innovative tenure at CNN Worldwide.اضافة اعلان

As the former Commercial President for CNN, which won the trust of millions of viewers over the past decades, Raad balanced the delicate act between profit and integrity in a field where the two are often at odds. And his approach proved that the combination of the two could be an ever-shining blue moon.

Raad leaves an inspiring legacy and a necessary beacon of hope, especially for professional media outlets sidelined by the influx of untrustworthy social media-based news generation.

In fact, his peers in the industry, have dubbed him a legend and a champion for press freedom as they reflected on his exceptional career.

Editor-in-Chief of Arab News Faisal Abbas called him a “legend in his own right," while Alarabiya TV Network's UK Bureau Chief Rima Maktabi, who worked at CNN with Raad a decade ago, was quoted by Arab News as saying: "Rani enriched CNN's shows with sponsors without compromising the integrity and editorial independence of the content".

Inspiration  As a Lebanese native with a deep understanding of the complexities of the Arab world, Raad has been a driving force in shaping the media landscape regionally and globally, and an inspiration to other professionals.

His exceptional ethics, commitment to excellence, and extensive network of contacts earned him recognition from the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2011 and a place among the world's most influential Arabs by Arabian Business in 2013.
As the former Commercial President for CNN, which won the trust of millions of viewers over the past decades, Raad balanced the delicate act between profit and integrity in a field where the two are often at odds.
It is quite evident that Raad's innovative mentality and ability to think outside the box have made him a sought-after leader, and it is no wonder that people are eager to see where his next venture will take him. And it is also evident that Raad's contributions to journalism redefined what it means to be a media leader in the 21st century.

It is no surprise that people familiar with Raad's success story are curious about his next step. As we ponder, we celebrate his pioneering thinking and its felt impact on the media industry.

Raad is a legendary figure who champions true journalism. He is exactly what we need to salvage the media sector and increase its competitiveness in the Arab World.

Good luck Rani!
 


Khalid Dalal is a former advisor at the Royal Hashemite Court, former director of media and communication at the Office of His Majesty King Abdullah, and works currently as a senior advisor for media, strategic communication, PR, international cooperation, and business development locally, regionally, and globally. [email protected]


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