Former Al Jazeera presenter to head BBC Arabic news service

From Oman Observer

The British Broadcasting Corporation, the world's biggest public broadcaster, has for the first time chosen an Arab to head its Arabic news service, the 42-year-old appointee, Hosam Sokkari, said on Thursday. "I think it's an important development because this is the first time since the (beginning of the) BBC Arabic service that an Arab runs the operation," Egyptian-born Sokkari said by telephone. "I definitely think that it sends a positive signal," said Sokkari, whose move to head the Arabic division of the BBC World Service will be officially announced later.

"It means that the BBC is serious about looking into the competences rather than the origin or the nationality," he said. Sokkari, originally from Cairo, said his challenge would be to maintain the BBC's traditional impartiality, balance and objectivity while reporting in a compelling way. We must keep the traditional, loyal listeners of the BBC and win more young listeners, he said. After graduating from Cairo university with a degree in pharmacy, Sokkari decided on a career in journalism, working first as a cartoonist in Egypt, Germany and Finland.

He began working for the BBC in 1994 as a presenter and producer in the Arabic division before moving for a few months to the Qatari-based broadcaster Al Jazeera in 1996. Three years after returning to the corporation, Sokkari was chosen to run the BBC's Arabic Internet operation becoming an award-winning editor of BBCArabic.com. The Arabic Service is part of the BBC World Service which provides news and information in 43 languages worldwide.

"Challenge" doesn't even come close to describing the road ahead of him. How about "monumental task" or "seemingly impossible task".

For starters the "BBC's traditional impartiality, balance and objectivity" has long gone. But coming from Al Jazeera he presumably won't miss that. All of this coupled with all the anti-American rhetoric coming from Egypt, it will be interesting to see if he rises to the "challenge".