2023-05-24 19:51:26
Media and Maeen to Asharq Al-Awsat: “Soon we will fly with him to global horizons.”
It is true that his name is “Narration after Dinner,” but the pleasure of listening to him goes beyond this date. The audience of this electronic program follows it in the evening and in the morning, after lunch, and for entertainment. Its presenters, Media Azoury and Moein Jaber, made a “narrative” at the time of a Lebanese break, distinguished by its content, its guests, and the style of dialogue in it. Away from the “cliché” questions and the frequent conversations that take place with art stars and others, the duo managed to distinguish.
“Sarda”, whose story began in the digital world during the pandemic and expanded after the start of the Lebanese revolution, is like a “podcast” that receives well-known personalities in different sectors. And between art, the environment, psychiatry, the media, and live testimonies, its topics revolve around.
Its presenters have a rich cultural background, primarily due to the nature of their work in media and production. In addition, each of his sides imbibed the culture of dialogue from his father. Media is the daughter of the famous Lebanese psychiatrist Shawky Azoury. Moein is the son of the journalist Ali Jaber, who left his mark wherever he went.
Why did “Sarda” succeed in attracting millions? Because, according to its introduction, it combines interesting content and dialogue. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, in which both Media and Moein participate, they confirm that the moments after dinner inspired them with the idea of the program. At this time, the sessions are sweet between friends and they discuss different topics. “We started it first, in about 4 episodes, with social conversations that we conducted together. Then we developed the idea and started receiving friends. After that, we expanded more and more, and it included stars and well-known personalities.” This is how Media and Moeen tell us the story of the birth of one of the first electronic programs in the Arab digital world. But today, after the rosary has been repeated and there has been an increase in the number of “podcasts”, do they still feel safe and continuity? Moein replies: “Our program is based on a completely different (podcast) idea. We consider it a community by itself, with no annoying or heavy competition in it, as each one has his space and his followers. Sometimes they come to us for advice and assistance, and we offer it willingly. We are safe, yes, because “narrative” is imprinted with the spirit of Media and a specific, just like any house you enter, so it has its own privacy and atmosphere.
Medea, who worked in the field of journalism, for whom speaking Arabic was the first difficulty. “I used to live in France, and in Lebanon I worked in journalism, and I used to write my articles in French.” And here Moein intervenes: “I stuck to Arabic because, in my opinion, the language is the treasure. Our program covered the entire Arab world. We are proud that our product is Lebanese from A to Z. Media and I are from Lebanon and we talk to our guests in Lebanese. Our team is local and our studio is between Dubai and Beirut. And its decorations are inspired by our Lebanese homes. Even the cost of this program we pay out of our own pocket ».
Media and Moein are a well-liked and widely followed duo. What is their secret? Media replies: “We got to know each other in the arenas of the revolution, and a quick harmony was born between us. Each of us had our own project and ideas for the future. But we soon found ourselves doing this project.” Moein comments: “Since the beginning, we have sensed this difference between us. Medea lived in Paris and is of a non-religious religion. She is a divorced woman, and she is 50 years old. As for me, my roots go back to the south, and I am 31 years old and still single. But all these differences brought us closer and broadened the scope of our discussions. It was rich and useful, so we decided to pass it on to the other. Perhaps the lack of free media spaces in which to express our feelings prompted us to do this experiment.
The two agree that the revolution and the Beirut explosion are two events that changed their way of thinking. “Because the traditional media did not satisfy our thirst, especially after the spark of the revolution subsided, we took this step. The information we wanted to receive and talk about was not able to be provided by conventional television. Moein explains: “Traditional media, in my opinion, is canned, domesticated, and subservient. As for us, we are independent in everything we do.”
They did not consult any of their acquaintances before embarking on a “narrative,” so they kept the idea away from their families. Media commented: “Our parents today are among our most important followers and supporters. My father taught me the meaning of freedom and instilled in me from a young age self-confidence and expressing boldly without fear.” As for Mueen, he continues: “My father is an encyclopedia in itself and a treasure trove of information. He comes from a classic media background, but he is one of the most supportive of modern media, as he sees the future in it.
So far, “Sarda” has hosted dozens of famous names. And as George Khabbaz and Carlos Ghosn, as well as Nadine Labaki, Basil Khayyat and others. And Media adds, “There are also ordinary people and activists. And one of the people who left their impact on me the most, and a certain opinion agrees with me, is Omar Al-Shughri. He is one of the few survivors of the Syrian military prison Sednaya. He made us re-calculate and organize our priorities again, and he gave us optimism and happiness. Moein interrupts her: “Indeed, he is an extraordinary person with a wonderful way of thinking, so we achieved with him the most beautiful narrations and dialogues.”
How did they attract so many stars? Moein replies: “We have not faced any refusal from any invitee, not once. They assure us that they feel comfortable on our show and like our conversational style. We are undoubtedly fortunate with this interaction.” Today, the duo plans to make some change in their program: “We want to expand its horizons, and cross into wider oceans and spaces, in the Arab world and globally. And soon, we will start traveling to Egypt, the Maghreb, and Saudi Arabia, to reach the Western world.”
For Medea, “Sarda” constitutes the most enjoyable of her professional experiences, from which she learned a lot and got to know people closely. Moein is happy to consolidate this cultural relationship between Lebanon, its expatriates, and the entire population of the Arab world. “I have a passion for content, and before (Sarda), there was nothing like us, especially on television. Most of the content in it is dominated by the import of ideas, and with (Sarda) we contributed to introducing people to the Arab world, which is rich in its cultures.
Recently, both Media and Moein participated in an Arab conference (Art and Media) that was held at Harvard University. “We were invited to participate in it and talk about (narrative), and we were surprised by the crowded number of people in the hall.” Wichtmann: “Today our passion is growing even more, and we hope that similar media experiences will intensify. We did not invent gunpowder, and the most important thing is that we continue and complete the journey.”
“Traditional media, in my opinion, is canned, domesticated, and subservient. As for us, we are independent in everything we do.”
Moein Jaber
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