I was bitten by the journalism bug when I was 16. I had a friend who was a TV anchor and one day I attended the filming of her show. At the end of the show I told my friend I knew what I wanted to do - be a broadcast journalist.
What followed was a lot of hard work. I earned a bachelor's and a masters degree in broadcast journalism but soon realised I was more effective behind the camera than in front of it.
Al Youm is the brainchild of Joaquin Blaya, a former associate from the days when I first launched a Spanish-language show, Ocurrio Asi, in 1990. It ran for 11 years on Spanish language network Telemundo. Blaya believed that the Alhurra TV channel needed something along the lines of the The Today Show or Good Morning America on the American network NBC.
They were looking for a person to helm the show. He knew I had the experience of launching a foreign language show [Ocurrio Asi] and so asked me if I was interested. This was definitely tougher for me but I took on the challenge. Some of the core issues, apart from the 30 to 40 per cent hard news, include an infotainment mix - women's health, education, parenting, nutrition and an in-depth analysis of the current developments in the region.
The show has had an amazing impact. We celebrated our second anniversary on March 8, 2011 - it was launched on International Women's Day, going simultaneously live from five studios including Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Jerusalem and Washington DC. It is funded by the US Government and our main focus is to inform the Arabs about developments in their region.
We believe that if we are true to our mission, and provide relevant content emanating from the region, aiming to be balanced, fair and accurate people will watch the programme.
Amazingly, the people in top positions in the five studios are women. That was a coincidence, I would never choose someone simply because of their gender - they had to be the right people for the job. That was the reason I got my job in the first place.
Once I was selected to do the show, I had to do a whirlwind tour of the Middle East to familiarise myself and start recruiting staff. I had some difficulties learning to speak Arabic. We had all these inordinate uplink and downlink delays just as we were going live on the first day of the show, with all the dignitaries present, in a situation where we could not fail. I thought at one point that we would not be able to pull it off. But we did. And it (the show) now purrs like a well-oiled engine. It took 16 months of 20-hour days to get things in order.
I am an expert at launching projects and not too many people want to do this job. This position is similar in many ways to people who [parasail] - it is definitely not a career for the fainthearted. The love of a great challenge motivates me immensely - the tougher the challenge, the more enthusiastic I am about it. I am willing to take the risk.
I have been working as a producer since 1988. I guess I am lucky to have a very supportive husband - JB Diederich, a photo journalist, who speaks five languages - a daughter aged 20, who is studying medicine, a son aged 14 and the youngest daughter who is six-years-old. If I need to travel he stays at home with the children, helping with their studies.
There is no secret to juggling a strenuous job and family. I multi-task by booking all the engagements and planning everything in detail. Certain careers allow you to take a break and return when you've dealt with situations in your life like having kids. But television is an all-consuming medium and career. I love TV and it loves me back, so I hold on to it. I've done it all in the last 20-odd years - worked from home, brought my babies to work... But I have no regrets. Once I get home in the evening, I try to spend quality time with the children. Planning is important. I book even my holiday time with the family so that everything is neatly mapped and arranged.
Quick questions
Which countries would you love to visit?
I've travelled widely due to the nature of my work and because I enjoy experiencing new cultures. I'd like to go on a safari in Kenya and visit Tanzania and Russia. I also find South Africa cool.
All-time favourite cartoon characters?
You've just asked a woman who is anti-animation that question! But yes, they have to be Nemo and Mickey Mouse (I am American, I can't help it).
Your hobbies?
Planning vacations and spending quality time with loved ones. My family is more important than my job - when I go home, I switch off and spend time helping children with their homework, and having dinner with my family. I also practice Pilates and yoga.
