Aljazeera

[Lensmith]

I have several good friends who work for Aljazeera.

But I've noticed something.

There are quite a few people who have very negative feelings about this company and, for the life of me, I can't really understand that.

Here's their English language site.

http://english.aljazeera.net/News/images/AJILogo.jpg

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/55ABE840-AC30-41D2-BDC9-06BBE2A36665.htm

I've seen many of their stories. And knowing people who work there whom I know and respect for their journalistic abilities, I find myself surprised at how others have nothing good to say about the company.

Why is that?

Their product is good. No, they don't tow the popular US point of view all the time and some of their stories probably do make those of us in the US uncomfortable. But they cover the world, and not just the Middle East, quite a bit better than any other US based network that I'm familiar with.

Aljazeera is growing in world influence. while it's almost impossible for most Americans to see them on the air, that is probably going to change in the next few years.

At one time I was actually thinking of working for them until life events took me in another direction. Given the chance, I'd have no problems happily being a part of their team but when I mention this to others, they are not shy in telling me I"m risking career suicide...which I don't believe.

To me, anti-Aljazeera feelings aren't much different from anti-FOX News sentiments.

It's still journalism no matter which way you cut it.

Would you work for Aljazeera?

[Freddie Mercury]

There are quite a few people who have very negative feelings about this company and, for the life of me, I can't really understand that.

You seem to be avoiding the obvious in your post, and I doubt it is something you hadn't thought of. For most people, the only reason they have heard of Aljazeera is because it is the medium of choice for Osama Bin Ladin and al Quaeda. The network is usually mentioned in the same breath as "new ominous threats against the West" or "gruesome execution video".

Few people have access to their product in the US, so the only perception is that presented by other media. I only have seen it when traveling overseas. I did find it to be a reasonable, fairly balanced presentation of world news. That hasn't changed the fact that when I hear of Aljazeera, my first thought is Middle Eastern terrorism.

Oh, and would I work for Aljazeera? No, but I wouldn't work for any national/international network. I value my home life too much for that.

[svp]

I commend Aljazeera for airing video US networks would leave in the edit bay. US networks and local newscasts won't show bodies, people being shot, most have policies now that won't allow showing the planes hit the Twin Towers anymore, etc. Not one US newscast that I'm aware of even showed the Saddam Hussain execution video. You had to go on the internet to watch the cell phone video. That, to me, is amazing. Aljazeera doesn't try to determine what is appropriate for viewers. They just show it all and let the viewers draw their own conclusions. I wish US news would follow the same line.

[David R. Busse]

I did several uplinks for Aljazeera three years ago.

You would think that a good producer for this network would carry all sorts of swag to reward people like myself for favors performed in the field.

No such luck. I gave her my card and she promised...something.

I waited by my mailbox for weeks...no logo-festooned hats, tee shirts, birkas or decorative swords arrived. Darn. Still waiting.

Even my next-door neighbor at the time, a native of Baghdad, was disappointed.

[Lensmith]

You seem to be avoiding the obvious in your post...when I hear of Aljazeera, my first thought is Middle Eastern terrorism.

I chalk it up to spending ten years living outside of the US but...when I did, I developed the ability to look at all news product, US, Spanish language, or any other language/news source, as a regular person first...instead of a US citizen first.

I saw stories I covered in Central America portrayed in less than a complete manner by the time they hit the air on US networks. That's not meant as a cheap shot or to sound like I don't love my country. It was an observation made after covering an event and seeing what was cherry picked as "important" and then broadcast.

This "cherry picking" of facts and events was not a fault solely of US networks but many, if not all news sources.

I don't know if that makes sense...but to try and explain that thought...I imagine there are a lot of people in the Middle East who see the US news product with the same bias. As nothing more than an information source showing only one narrow point of view which didn't match up to their own.

Actually, I'm kind of interested in what OBL is up to since I still hold him responsible for all those deaths on 9/11 so long ago. I don't think ignoring the guy is going to make him or "the problem" go away. It's something we, as citizens and a country have to address. To do that...the more information, the better in my book.

Freddie, please keep in mind I understand and agree with what you wrote. Especially the last part about not taking a network job due to other more important family concerns.

I'm just adding this to expand the discussion here.

On a side note David...I was involved in an Aljazeera live shot out of Nicaragua during a past presidential election and all of us were trying to figure out a way to pilfer their mic flag from them.;)

[Goon]

Would you work for Aljazeera?

Whats the pay?

Seriously I would work for their English channel. It would be an experience to see how news is done outside of the states.

[Tippster]

They're a client of ours, so I've done work with both the Arabic and English sides of Al J. They are no different than any other broadcaster on the planet - they have some great producers who let you do your job, they have others who micromanage the hell out of you to disguise their incompetence. Some of their reporters are excellent, others are idiot primadonnas who wouldn't survive a day without their producer.

Their model for news is the BBC. Basically that means let the viewer decide what's important or not. Why hate them for being the go to guys for Al Qaeda video? If MSNBC was the 800lb gorilla in the Middle East then they'd get first crack.

Oh, you don't want to be staff with them - the pay is low end compared to their competitors, but freelancing for them is just fine.

Mr. Busse - need a T-shirt? :D:D:D:D

[cameradog]

I worked alongside them for a few years in DC, covering many of the same events. They are generally competent, reasonable journalists.

The reason people dislike them is that they have an Arab-centric or Islam-centric point of view. There is definitely a cultural bias in their material. Most Americans don't come from that culture and don't understand it, so they see it as being "anti-American." It isn't anti-American, but simply oriented toward a foreign audience.

The thing is, I don't think their cultural bias is as strong as our cultural bias in the United States. We, of course, see what's fair in our culture as being fair, period. If our bias puts us 10 points away from what's really right and true, and theirs is 5 points in the other direction, then from our point of view they appear to be 15 points in the direction of wrong.

In other words, people dislike Al Jazeera because they're dumb Amurkins who have no concept of the world beyond their borders.

[Dave.B]

I commend Aljazeera for airing video US networks would leave in the edit bay. US networks and local newscasts won't show bodies, people being shot, most have policies now that won't allow showing the planes hit the Twin Towers anymore, etc. Not one US newscast that I'm aware of even showed the Saddam Hussain execution video. You had to go on the internet to watch the cell phone video. That, to me, is amazing. Aljazeera doesn't try to determine what is appropriate for viewers. They just show it all and let the viewers draw their own conclusions. I wish US news would follow the same line.

I agree totally. I've always said that our US media needs to vividly broadcast footage of our soldiers and civilians being brutalized. Our media cleans it up so much that we, as a nation, have been neutralized to what's really going on.

[cameradog]

Our media cleans it up so much that we, as a nation, have been neutralized to what's really going on.

I think you meant desensitized. If we had been neutralized, we'd be dead.

[svp]

I agree totally. I've always said that our US media needs to vividly broadcast footage of our soldiers and civilians being brutalized. Our media cleans it up so much that we, as a nation, have been neutralized to what's really going on.


I found video posted on youtube, by insurgents, showing US military soldiers having their heads nearly blown off by insurgent snipers. One man with a gun, another with a camera. Its some pretty difficult stuff to watch. You think this country is fed up with the Iraq war now, imagine how they'd feel if they saw this video on the six o'clock news. Yes its graffic, yes its gut wrenching, but people need to see what our soldiers are REALLY dealing with over there.

[Tippster]

What the hell does that have to do with Al Jazeera? They don't show that stuff either. That's not News, that's Shock Opera, and there's a reason why it's not on any major News network, which - like it or not - Al J. is now.


Face it - these guys are no different than Fox News, The BBC, or CNN. Yes, they focus on what they find important (the Arab perspective) but honestly thank goodness for that. At least they don't cover Paris Hilton or any of the other Celeb garbage. I'd much rather work for an Arab-centric news network than FMZ.

[pre-set]

To me, anti-Aljazeera feelings aren't much different from anti-FOX News sentiments.




ding*ding*ding*ding*ding....

And that's exactly why you'll never be able to talk people out of their own, entrenched stereotypes and biases. There are people out there who wouldn't EVER consider watching FNC or even a Fox affil. simply because of that mindset. It's stupid, of course, but the exact same mindset (in a different polartiy of sorts) makes others think the same thing about Al Jz....

[Ace Of Nothing]

I know a few people who ended up working for them out of New York. They were real "news" types, serious journalists that didn't like playing to ratings, gimmicks and promotions departments. I'd work for them if the price was right.

They do quite a bit of recruiting out of the CBC in Canada since they are the closest you get to the BBC in North America.

We don't get Al Jz here unless you have satellite so I haven't seen much but I hear they do good work.

Check out this doc for an inside look:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391024/
"Control Room"

It was pretty good.

[wtv]

I may go staff with them...........inshallah

[Baltimore Shooter]

Al Jazeera has a Media Mgt position open in their DC bureau. Ad on Craigslist - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tfr/513418276.html

Warren

[photogguy]

The problem is that we who live in the United States do not like to hear differing opinions. "Rah-rah, America is great" is all we (as a population) want to hear.

I like differing world views. That's why I like the BBC.

But, would I work for them? Probably not. (not that they've asked, or anything :) )

[Frank McBride]

The problem is that we who live in the United States do not like to hear differing opinions. "Rah-rah, America is great" is all we (as a population) want to hear.

I like differing world views. That's why I like the BBC.

But, would I work for them? Probably not. (not that they've asked, or anything :) )

How can that be the reason when the major networks and CNN all are decidedly NOT cheerleaders for the US?

The reason is the stigma of being associated with the nations we generally regard as our enemies. It doesn't seem mysterious at all.

FMc

[photogguy]

How can that be the reason when the major networks and CNN all are decidedly NOT cheerleaders for the US?


FMc


I didn't say "Rah-rah, Bush is great." Most of America is past that.

[Frank McBride]

I didn't say "Rah-rah, Bush is great." Most of America is past that.

I wasn't thinking of Bush bashing at all. Our national news seems to like to compare our country negatively to others often, yet people continue to immigrate here, legally and illegally, in large numbers. Aside from some national pride just after 9/11, I would be interested in examples of US news promoting ourselves.

FMc

[Tippster]

Is that our job? PR? Not in my humble opinion.

Without the media to call bullsh!t we would all be worse off, methinks. Someone's gotta keep the riffraff in the Statehouses honest.

[The Toplens]

Would you work for Aljazeera?

I would.... and I do! I recently joined the company based in the broadcast HQ in Doha, after jumping ship after many years at the BBC in the UK!


Oh, you don't want to be staff with them - the pay is low end compared to their competitors, but freelancing for them is just fine.

I'm staff here and would say that the pay and benefits are fantastic - much more than the BBC or ITN were paying and it was good enough to make me sell up in the UK and relocated my family here.

[wtv]

Good on you Toplens, I was just meant to do a Christmas gig for them in Afghanistan but was already booked.

Enjoy sunny Doha......