Francois Naim Ghattas

Francois Naim Ghattas was a Lebanese electronics technician from the Ghattas family associated with Machghara. He worked at the Associated Press bureau in Beirut when telex machines were essential to distributing news between Lebanon and the wider world.

Largely self-taught in electronics, he repaired telex equipment in the bureau and for subscribers, helping maintain access to news services under difficult technical and security conditions.

AP bureau chief Terry Anderson recognised his ability and encouraged him to undertake repair assignments outside Lebanon. Ghattas travelled on technical work to Cairo, Amman, and Gulf countries, representing the skilled local staff who sustained regional news networks before the digital era.