Dearborn Community Mourns the Passing of Mohamed Jaber

The American Lebanese community mourns the untimely loss of award-winning Lebanese American journalist Mohamed Jaber, publisher and editor-in-chief of مجلة السبيل and longtime advisor to Lebanon Prime Minister Dr. Salim El Hoss.

Mohamed Yousef Jaber was a journalist originally from Lebanon. Mr. Jaber became a journalist while he was still in high school. During this time, he would alert newspapers and other news outlets about student functions and issues. He learned everything about what it means to be a journalist; reporting, getting sources, finding out what was necessary to make a story, while he was continuing his studies. At this time, he worked for the newspaper “Al-Mouhrer.” This coincided with the beginning of the Lebanese war in 1973. He obtained a degree in Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Lebanese University in Beirut, Lebanon.

It didn't take long for him to discover that journalism was his true passion and shortly after graduating, he freelanced as a reporter for several news outlets, among them were ‘Beirut’ and “Al-Youm.” He finally secured a post at the much lauded Al-Liwaa Newspaper, and he went on to become Managing Editor of the paper for a decade. He also had the first radio show dedicated solely to students and educational issues at the official Lebanese radio station and then made his way to official news outlet for the Lebanese Ministry of Media. Jaber worked as a media attaché at the Ministry of Education with several notable Ministers: Boutros Harb, Issam Khouri, and eventually Dr. Salim El Hoss (at the time, El-Hoss was Minister of Education).

With the unfortunate passing of former Prime Minister Rashid Karami, Dr. El-Hoss went on to become the PM of Lebanon and Jaber became his media advisor. As media advisor to Dr. El-Hoss, Jaber accompanied the PM on several trips and conferences held in many Arabic and European countries. Jaber’s last trip with Dr. El-Hoss was to the United Nations in New York.

In 1990, Jaber emmigrated to the United States and settled in Dearborn, Michigan. He immediately began working at different media outlets (print, radio, and television) in Michigan. He also freelanced for local newspapers and appeared in other media outlets until he started his own magazine, “Al-Sabeel” in 1992. At this time, Jaber also hosted a local Arab language television show (Lebanese American TV) which broadcast from and in Dearborn. The television show was closed due to the influx of the wide variety of Arabic TV stations that became accessible with the emergence of satellite broadcasting.

Jaber continued to publish “Al-Sabeel” (also known as “The Best Way”) as a monthly publication. The magazine covered local news and events, especially those pertaining to Arab-Americans in Michigan. Although it covered mainly the Arab-American community in Michigan, the magazine was circulated throughout many cities and states across the country.