NAMED "Best of the Best" Presenters/Speakers by LACONI
(Library Administrators Conference of Northern Illinois, 2007)
What Editor & Publisher Magazine says about Ray Hanania
Dec. 28, 2006
"Ray Hanania, a former Creators columnist who's now self-syndicated, is a Palestinian-American writer married to a Jewish woman. He writes about Mideast issues in an evenhanded way that makes him seem positively radical in a sea of columnists who back Israel almost unconditionally.
Hanania's approach, as former President Jimmy Carter discovered with his latest book, is not popular with much of the mainstream media. But it would be interesting if U.S. dailies followed the lead of Israeli newspapers in allowing a much wider spectrum of debate about Mideast issues. By the way, Hanania is also a stand-up comedian who's hilarious when he opts to use humor."
A longtime, veteran Chicago political reporter, Hanania now writes an award winning column for the Southwest News-Herald Newspaper, blogs for the Internet's #1 ranked news blog, the HuffingtonPost.com, and offers a syndicated column on Middle East issues to newspapers across the country and around the world through the Arab American Writers Syndicate. A former talk show on WLS AM Radio (and previously on WBBM FM and WLUP FM radio), Hanania covered Chicago City Hall from "Daley to Daley" (1976-1992) writing for the Chicago Sun-Times. He hosts Radio Chicagoland on WJJG 1530 AM Radio Monday through Friday from 8 until 9:30 am.
Hanania is the publisher of the National Arab American Times News Newspaper, an English-Arabic language community newspaper that focuses on Arab American community events and news, distributed in 48 States. As a parttime, freelance columnist, Hanania also provides media support for web pages and internal communications projects.
Hanania is also a recognized Arab American historian and author of eight books including "Arabs of Chicagoland." He is an activist for peace between Palestinians and Israelis speaking out against terrorism, extremism, Islamic fanaticism and in favor of peace based on non-violence and compromise. Hanania is also an internationally acclaimed standup comedian turning to standup comedy and humor performing for Christian, Muslim and Jewish audiences around the world to confront hatred and animosity. He co-founded the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour.
In November 2006, Hanania was named "Best National Ethnic Columnist" by the New America Media for his columns published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on their English-langauge web site (YnetNews.com). He is the recipient of three Society of Professional Journalism "Lisagor Awards for Columns Writing" (1984/85, 2002/03, and 2006/07). Hanania's columns on the Middle East have been published by YnetNews.com, the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, the Saudi Arabia Arab News, al-Quds Newspaper, as Sharq al-Awsat, and the Arlington Heights Daily Herald, NEWSWEEK, the New York Daily News, Newsday and the Orlando Sentinal. He also writes opinion columns on Chicagoland and American domestice politics and life for the Chicago Southwest News-Herald. Hanania also provides video-blog commentaries for The Listening Post on Al-Jazeera English.
In twice earning the prestigious "Stick-o-Type" Award for column writing, the judges in 1984 credited "his deft analyses that deflate the overblown and irritate the mighty," and in 1986 applauded Hanania for "displaying a special voice in columns that were humorous and insightful."
Originally distributed by Creators Syndicate, Hanania now self-syndicates directly to newspapers and to new media & online media through the Arab American Writers Group Syndication. A Palestinian American, Hanania is one of a small handful of Arab American professional journalists who write columns analyzing Middle East issues on a regular basis for a major American newspaper. In 2003, he won a Society of Professional Journalism Lisagor Award for his columns in the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
He is the host of the weekly Comcast Cable TV Program "30 Minutes" which addresses Arab American and mainstream American issues, and a regular video-blog contributor to Al-Jazeera's English Language program "Listenning Post."
Additionally, Hanania is a standup comedian. His Arab American-Jewish comedy routine lampoons his life and unique marriage to his wife, Alison, who is Jewish, at clubs, universities and Arab, Muslim, Jewish and American events around the country. His web page is www.hanania.com. The comedy web page is www.IPComedyTour.com.
"After Sept. 11, many Arab Americans like myself were targeted. Many were intimidated into denying or abandoning their Arab heritage. We lost employment, job opportunities and watched as our ethnic press was decimated. We had seven Arab American ethnic newspapers in Chicago before Sept. 11. After, all but one closed. Five years later, we have two. This is a pattern we've seen across the United States, not just in Arab American journalism but in business, industry and on the social level, too. I think that says everything about the challenges Arabs face in this country today. Using communications, we can change that and at the same time, make America the country it was intended to be."
Please note, I am NOT a member nor am I an adviser to the "Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism." Although the group's principles are noteworthy, their views do not necessarily represent my efforts to bridge differences between Palestinians and Israelis.
Bush is inspired by Carter, who despite a difficult four years in office plagued by the Iranian hostage crisis, was able to carve a place in world history by bringing two of the many foes in the Middle East conflict to the peace table.
Obama's trip to the Middle East might have reinforced his stature as a possible President. But if he really wants peace there he is going to have to do more than establish his credentials as a solid supporter of Israel.
This week: Why Russian-American voters like McCain and Arab voters are excited about Obama. Also: A veteran Philippine broadcaster and her crew are abducted.
The National Arab American Times, , Ray Hanania Interviewing Suzanne Manneh, May 30, 2008
Ray Hanania, publisher of The National Arab American Times, interviews Suzanne Manneh about her article, “Palestinian Youth Express Themselves Through Hip-Hop.”
A corruption case involving Iraq-war related contracts is unfolding with little media attention in Illinois. An Arab-American commentator says new testimony gives some clue as to why.
Even before 9/11, Arab Americans running for office had to deal with racism . In running for president, Barack Obama, whose middle name is Hussein, has already seen that it will not be easy to shed false accusations that he is Muslim, therefore suspect.
In These Times, News Report, Jessica Clark and Tracy Van Slyke, Dec 01, 2006
Forget about the Pulitzer Prize. On Nov. 14, the most recent addition to the world of journalism awards ignored old standards like the New York Times and the Washington Post, instead honoring the work of such reporters as Dennis Romero of Tu Ciudad in Los Angeles and Ray Hanania of Ynet-News.com/Yedioth Ahronoth in Orland Park, III.
Community activist and longtime Asian Reporter columnist Ronault L.S. Catalani ("Polo") has been named runner-up in the Commentary/Editorial category of the first National Ethnic Media Awards, organized by New America Media (NAM). The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. on November 14, 2006.
Ynet News/Yedioth Ahronoth, Commentary, , Ray Hanania, Nov 17, 2006
The writer has received a New America Media Ethnic Media Award for 2006 for a series of humorous commentaries on Israeli-Palestinian relations, reprinted here. NAM recognized outstanding ethnic media reporters this week in Washington, D.C.
Close to 600 ethnic media practitioners competed in 14 categories for recognition in 19 categories, ranging from Investigative Journalism to Best Community Talk Show. The New America Media awards will be presented at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Arab-American Business, Nidal M. Ibrahim, Mar 04, 2003
Creators Syndicate — one of the world’s largest distributors of editorial columns to newspapers, magazines and other media — has agreed to carry a column by longtime community activist and journalist Ray Hanania.
Despite the overwhelming bigotry that they face in this country, African Americans have spoken out forcefully against bias against themselves and also against bigotry directed against others, including Arab Americans.
Arab American Business Magazine, Angie Latif, Jan 03, 2003
Six stand-up comics got together one night recently in a benefit show, poking fun at everything from President Bush, Saddam Hussein, the 9/11 backlash and one comedian’s marriage to a Jewish woman.
, Odette Keeley, Jun 13, 2008