Jon Wolman

DEARBORN – On Thursday members of the Arab American community addressed concerns about local media coverage with Detroit News Publisher Jon Wolman during a dinner meeting at Habib’s Cuisine.  Some suggestions made to Mr. Wolman included increasing the paper’s coverage on Arab Americans in southeast Michigan, and giving the local Arab community a greater voice by publishing more editorials written by their members. In the past letters sent to the publication from community members seeking to draw attention to the Arab narrative on issues didn’t receive proper responses.

Concerns were also raised about Detroit News Editorial contents. The paper’s religion reporter Oralandar    Brand-Williams was commended for covering important events pertaining to the region’s Arab Americans and Muslims.

A similar meeting with WXYZ-Detroit Vice President Ed Fernandez and Editorial Director Chuck Stokes was scheduled for Friday. Coverage of the Arab Spring and Wayne County severance controversy was discussed as well. Others in attendance included Regional Director of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, Imad Hamad, Attorney Tarek Baydoun, Publisher of The Arab American News, Osama Siblani, Michigan Civil Rights Commissioner, Attorney Nabih Ayad, Allie Berry of Armada Oil and Gas Company, Ali Baleed of the Yemeni American Benevolent Association, Former Fordson High School Principal Imad Fadlallah and Attorney Mariam Bazzi, President of the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC).