Sami Zeidan

Sami Zeidan is an award-winning journalist who for more than a decade, has anchored, reported and executive produced with some of the biggest names in television: CNN, CNBC, NBC and Al Jazeera.

Prior to joining Al Jazeera English, Sami presented a number of shows broadcast on CNBC Arabia, CNBC Europe and CNBC Asia. He also presented and wrote news shows with CNN International (USA).

Over the years Sami has reported from many a seat of power including the United Nations, the White House and The European Commission, as well as from conflict zones ranging from the Korean Peninsula to the different hotspots in the Middle East, including live war correspondence.

As a news anchor and talk show host, Sami has interviewed a number of world leaders and Presidents including the legendary South African President Nelson Mandela, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi, among many other notable figures and actors.

Sami has also taught broadcast journalism courses at the prestigious University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism, the first school of journalism in the world. Sami is regularly sought by Fortune 500 CEO’s and Senior Executives of Multi-National Companies to teach senior staff and media personnel the art of handling the media.

Al Jazeera English (AJE) chose Sami to present the channel’s first live words when AJE launched on November 15th, 2006. Sami is now a regular face as Senior Presenter for AJE. Sami’s engaging interviewing style earned him wide recognition, and he has been selected to host interviews for the network’s talk show “Talk To Al Jazeera”.

Sami has anchored during the uprisings that swept Arab countries and was instrumental in developing a system of communicating with protestors when authorities restricted peoples’ means of communication with the media.