Nima Shaffe.

SOUTHFIELD — Today’s young Arab Americans are pursuing career paths previous generations didn’t generally take on, such as everything from journalism and high political office to entertainment. Arab American Nima Shaffe is one of local WXYZ channel 7 ABC affiliate’s new multi-media reporters. 

There has been some concern raised in the past that local television stations don’t have Arab American reporters to reflect the high concentration of Arab Americans in metro-Detroit, which has the highest population of the ethnic group in the entire country. Arab Americans are very business oriented, and typically find success through their entrepreneurial spirit, they also more commonly pursue careers in the medical, engineering or law fields. WXYZ Vice President and General Manager Ed Fernandez says the station has a commitment to diversity. Some of its new employees, including Andrew Choi, who’s of Korean descent, reflect that commitment.