Defining a new generation of Arab intellectuals: Abu Wardeh v Gorani

Investigating truth, searching for love, and bringing the news to your front door; just part of the everyday grind for Nima Abu-Wardeh and Hala Gorani.

Both women are highly accomplished news anchors in addition to being respected intellectuals and honoured public servants. In mind, body and spirit, they demand our attention while working to inspire a new generation of Arab intellectuals.

Nima Abu-Wardeh
Education: 9 Risk-taker: 6 Variety of experience: 10 Non-profit involvement: 9

It would be wrong to say that Nima is known solely for her work as anchor of the BBC's Middle East Business Report (based in Dubai), although that's certainly a good place to start. As the face of the channel's weekly financial programme, Nima has become internationally recognized for her strong analysis and unremitting passion.

Unlike most anchors, Nima is also the founder of MZone, a content provider and consultancy service specializing in media and business issues relating to the Arab world. In addition to founding the company, Nima provides media training for both organizations and individuals, including courses for university students.

The bilingual English-Arabic broadcaster was born in England to a family of British-Palestinian descent. She lived in England until she was seven, at which time she moved to Kuwait, learned Arabic, and lived the life of a dual lineage youth. For university Nima decided to go back to England and attend the University of Kent, where she ended up receiving a degree in, no kidding, medical engineering!

Nima doesn't think it odd that she studied medical engineering and ended up with a media career. "It all makes sense when you think about it. Everything in life has one single link that connects you to the next step. I started my TV career doing medical reports, because I had medical background," she says. When The Financial Times launched a bilingual project some years later, she took her university experience to the next level.

From there she worked for organizations such as Arab News Network and Al-Jazeera's London office. Before the launch of MEBR, Nima was a regular regional commentator and guest on the BBC Radio 4 programme Four Corners, and Dateline London on BBC World News.

Outside of the newsroom, Nima is a frequent moderator at several conferences and events such as the Arab Business Council and the World Economic Forum. Nima is also an elected member of the board of the World Congress of History Producers. She aims to promote awareness among media and other influential professionals of the need to challenge the status quo, to think critically rather than accept spin, and to offer different perspectives while adhering to the truth.

Nima believes that her dual lineage has helped be a better analyst, seeing issues from a variety of angles and being able to detail the Arab perspective within an international context.

Locally, Nima was honoured in 2005 for her achievements by Khaleej Times, and will be a guest speaker at the annual Insight Dubai Conference hosted by Dubai Women's College, April 4th-8th 2010, in Dubai.

Hala Gorani
Education: 10 Risk-factor: 10 Variety of experience: 9 Non-profit involvement: 7

A reporter and anchor for CNN International in Atlanta, Hala Gorani has already done more than most journalists do in an entire career. Although her fame exceeds her early expectations, Hala still enjoys watching American Idol and dreams of finding the 'perfect man'.

Hala, one of CNN's most experienced international journalists, has a list of credentials that would fill up an entire news hour. She has reported from every country in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. She is a former host of 'Inside the Middle East' and has reported on several thought-provoking stories including poverty in oil-rich Bahrain; everyday struggles for artists living in Iraq; and gay life in the Middle East, which earned her a nomination for a Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) award.

Born in Seattle and raised in Washington, DC, she says that "if you have a passion for journalism, you really don't think about where you are and the danger you could be in. You are the eyes and ears of the people who are not there and you have a responsibility to them." Hala is no stranger to risk. She was instrumental in CNN International's coverage of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006, for which CNN won an Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2005, Hala covered the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and was one of the first television reporters on the ground in Amman, Jordan after al Qaeda suicide bombers attacked two hotels.

The fact that Hala speaks English, French and Arabic has enabled her to work for a variety of international media. Joining CNN in 1998 from Bloomberg Television in London, she has also worked for France 3, the French daily 'La Voix du Nord', and news agency 'Agence France Presse' (AFP).

Turning 39 this year made Hala admit that it is sometimes hard for her to balance work and play. "It's an obvious problem really, but of course having a relationship is difficult when you are travelling around the world and are away from home for so long. But I believe if the day ever comes that the need to stay in one place overrides my passion for my job then I will make that decision then and there." Whatever you decide Hala, we look forward to seeing you this week on the big screen.