Dr. May Chidiac

• Born in Beirut (Rmeil), June 20th, 1963.
• PhD. Information and Communication Sciences from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University with honorable distinction Student of the Saint Famille Française School Gemayze-Fanar (General Sciences)

Decorations

• Medal of “Dame de l'ordre de Saint Gregoire-le-Grand” awarded by Pope Francis in 2017. She received the medal from the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai in May 2018, at Bkerke.
• "Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur", decorated by the former President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac in May 2007 at Elysée Palace.

Career

• Professor of Journalism and Radio/Television at the Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) since 1997.
• Founder and President of the two NGOs; May Chidiac Foundation (MCF) and its affiliated Media Institute (MCF-MI) since 2011. The Foundation organizes two annual conferences Free Connected Minds (FCM) Women On The Front Lines (WOFL) Lebanon &WOFL MENA Chapter, Jordan
• The MCF Media Awards Ceremony awards journalists from around the world every year in Beirut. There are five categories under which a media professional is awarded.
• Founder of the Academy of Leadership & Applied Communication (ALAC), certified by the Lebanese government by the decree N° 2844/2016.
• Head of the Press Division at the Lebanese Embassy in Bern-Switzerland between 1989 and 1990.
• Real estate Promoter between 1994 and 1998.

Journalistic Career

• Producer and presenter of the prime time political talk show "Bi Kol Joraa" (With Audacity), in the "LBCI", 2006 - 2009.
• Host of the political Talk show “Nharkom Saiid”,1998 -2005
• Editor, reporter and News Anchor at LBC, 1985-2005.
• Journalist on the radio "Free Lebanon", 1991 -1993.
• Journalist on the radio "Voice of Lebanon", 1982 - 1985.

Assassination Attempt in 2005

• Throughout her journalistic career, Dr. May Chidiac stood up for the freedom of the Lebanese people when few dared to speak against the state of tyranny. She was frequently threatened with death threats.
• Six months after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, Chidiac was attacked by a car bomb causing her to lose her left leg and left arm.
• After ten months of numerous surgeries, treatment, and rehabilitation programs, she returned to the TV screen in a prime time political talk show called "Bi Kol Joraa" "With Audacity".

Publications

• "Le Ciel M’attendra" (Heaven Can Wait) in 2007 awarded the "Prix Vérité" in Le Cannet, France.
• "La Television Mise à Nu" (Influence of politics on the television scene) in 2014. The book was awarded the "Phoenix Prize" for literature.

Prizes

• 2006: With the support of US President Bill Clinton, she was designated as an outstanding media personality by the United States Secretary of State Ms. Condoleezza Rice.
• 2006: UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Award
• 2017: "Minerva Anna Maria Mammoliti of Human Rights and Civil Rights Award" of the Presidency of the Italian Republic, presented in Rome
• 2006: Courage in Journalism Award presented by the International Woman Media Foundation (IWMF).
• 2010:"World Press Freedom Hero". Awarded by the International Press Institute, (IPI) in Vienna.
• 2016/2018: Vice President and Jury Member of UNESCO for the award of Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Sabah for Empowering People with Disabilities through Digital Technologies in Paris
• 2017: Member of the Jury of the "Heart of the Words" contest in Monaco under the patronage of His Royal Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco
• 2010: Member of the "High Panel for Peace and Dialogue of Cultures" UNESCO (New Avenues for Peace)
• 2007: Clarins Award - Woman of the Year, awarded by the CLARINS Foundation
• 2007: Honored as part of "She Made It" by the Museum of Television and Radio, (Paley Center) New York, USA
• 2006: "CRANS Montana" Foundation Prize for Freedom of Expression awarded by His Royal Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, Monte Carlo
• 2005: The Freedom of Expression Prize of the International Union of Francophone Press (UPF).
• 2004: "Journalist of the Year" Award - U.K International College
• In the Arab World
• 2008: Honorary Award presented by the Crown Prince His Royal Highness, Sabah al Ahmad al Sabah, Kuwait
• 2006: "Freedom of Expression Award" presented by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad Ben Rached Ben Maktoum, Dubai
• 2006: Honorary Award presented by His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi
• 2006: "Annual Journalism Award" presented by the Ministry of Information in Cairo, Egypt.
• 2015: Medal of Honor, awarded by the Minister of Information in Lebanon

Honorary Title

• In June 2016, she was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate from the American University of Science and Technology.

Cultural NGO:

• Member of ADG (Gemmayze Development Association) since 2003