From interviewing American actor Matt Damon two days after giving birth, to answering work messages at 1 a.m. and tirelessly building her highly popular program Scoop with Raya, Lebanese journalist and TV host, Raya Abirached, has undeniably become the Arab world’s most famous media icon. Yet, it all began with a simple premise: a girl who simply loves movies. In today’s social media landscape, where Gen Z wrestle with the choice of building their own platform or withdrawing from it altogether, Abirached’s journey from television to digital media provides lessons for young Arabs aspiring to enter the media and entertainment industry. The opportunity to learn from these lessons finally came at The Youth Summit 2025, held at The American University in Cairo (AUC) on 19–20 September. Designed specifically for Egypt’s Gen Z, the summit centered on the theme of “Taking the Leap.” For Abirached, however, her own leap in media was neither drastic, calculated, nor even strategic, as some might assume; rather, it was rooted in her identity as a self-proclaimed movie girl. With that simple passion, she held onto it and fueled it consistently throughout her career. “Who…
In a Scroll-Obsessed World, Raya Abirached Shares Lessons on Media Success
September 21, 2025
