In November of 2006 Al Jazeera began its English news channel. The English speaking world would now be able watch this interesting Middle Eastern news outlet. Well, not exactly. Since its inception, very few American cable providers have offered this channel to its audience. Why is this? Cable providers such as Comcast claim that there reasoning is purely financial, and they are not politically motivated. This sounds awfully suspicious.
Cable providers are doing a great disservice to the American public. During a time when many American media outlets are simply not doing there jobs of reporting the news fairly and accurately, or covering a wide range of subjects, Al Jazeera is doing just that.
O.K., so you’re probably wondering how I know all of this since I live in America. Well, I visit England from time to time, and it is one of the countries that actually has the Al Jazeera news channel. Luckily, I also intern at a news station that has access to the channel.
Al Jazeera has wonderful world news coverage. While the Middle East is heavily reported, neglected areas such as Africa have a voice. This is in addition to the other mainstream world news that they cover. Al Jazeera is doing a good job and Americans should be able to watch this channel.
Jim Zackey (not verified) @ Mon, 02/26/2007 - 5:27am
No channel in the Arab World has given voice, visibility and weight to women than Al Jazeera. It is just a 100 days since it started its transmissions in English but already the smartest of the telecast world's stars shine in the new channel's constellation.
Take the pilot show of Amanda Palmer’s program “48″. What she and her crew have accomplished in Damascus in just 48 hours is amazing in terms of richness. They packed delicate yet diverse issues such as inter-faith harmony, women’s life, private entrepreneurs and youth culture in Damascus. It was miles ahead of what a viewer can find in a similar monthly program elsewhere (e.g. CNN’s Inside the Middle East).
Palmer's “Fabulous Picture Show”, is a treasure chest of what’s hot in the new media from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and beyond, surpassing BBC's Talking Movies. Other viewers will come up with many pleasant surprises if they indulge in viewing a program or two on AJE. The story of Israel’s first Arab Film Institute by Amanda Palmer on FPS was outstanding and so is her ‘48’. Similarly the episode on Nativity Church in God's Business was also informative.
All congraulations to Nadene Ghouri on making this outstanding documentary. It is impressive how she manages very young children to speak to the viewers about their pains and suffering. One could also see symptoms of recovery amidst signs of healing and hope.
This documentary lets us see through the children's eyes some of the world's most devastated societies.
The documentary allows the viewer to peek into the tormented lives of young boys and girls braving the challenge of growing up in tensions not of their making.
When it comes to an even handed treatment of the hot topic of the day, AJE viewers feel well-served by the balanced approach of the programmes like Inside Story. Another strength noted early on is the effort to cover "every angle-every side."
One of the high points was having Shimon Peres and Jimmy Carter on Riz Khan talk show. Thus we see Israeli Deputy Prime Minister's appearance on the channel’s launch proved the first drop of rain which follows daily feeds from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to cover Israeli opinion and views. Also noteworthy were interviews with Kofi Annan and new UNSG Banki Moon, White House spokesman Tony Snow, Lebanese Premier Fuiad Senora, and Jordan's Prince H.Tallal. I felt that I.Haniya’s interview by S.Zeidan and questions cautiously but probingly put to K.Mashal in Talk to Aljazeera were impressive. Julia Ruhfus' coverage of the shortcomings of post-Tsunami rebuilding in Acheh, V.Pedarosa's coverage of Burma’s planned capital were outstanding.
On 'Witness' World Cup Inshallah aptly brought a human touch to the sports situation in Palestine.
The US Defense Department began airing Al-Jazeera on closed circuit Pentagon TV since early December 2006. Any body with even a casual exposure to typical media in the Middle East will not be surprised if soon all US missions will ask the State Department carry Aljazeera on its VOA-TV platform. That will happen as US diplomats find AJE's multi-regional coverage and multi-perspective insights so rich on AJE that they won’t afford to miss it.
To determine how effective this channel’s approach may watch any of its flag-ship programs i.e. Inside Iraq taking the act of balancing to a level of art while demonstrating its intellect, wit, and analytical strength. It is fine to keep a watchful eye if any incorrect views or statements are aired and to take appropriate action. But gagging a channel which consists of acclaimed professionals like Dave Marash, David Frost and Steven Cole is like doubting intentions not backed by any sound evidence. The proof comes only AFTER seeing what AJE is or isn't about.
Another strength noted early on is the effort to cover "every angle-every side." Thus we see Shimon Peres: Deputy Prime Minister whose appearance on the channels launch proved the first drop of rain which follows almost daily feeds from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to cover Israeli opinion and views.
In terms of size and budget with CNN and Fox News, many call Aljazeera a 'little matchbox' but, when it comes to richness of representation, diversity of opinion and plurality of views AJE appears well prepared to take on the corporate news media on its merits.