Al Jazeera

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Lensmith

Member
My local cable company here in Nicaragua has Al Jazeera on one of it's channels. After hearing so much about it, I must admit it's interesting to see the complete product.

They have all the production values of any US network incuding the news crawl at the bottom (which runs "backwards"). Stock market numbers from around the world run in the lower corner just like CNN and FOX.

They show an amazing amount of what many might consider pro American video too. US soldiers giving out food and candy. Leading Iraqi kids in songs. Being welcomed in some cities.

They even have a guy in an insert box doing sign language translation for the deaf!!!! The facial expressions of the deaf signing person as he translates is almost something from a Saturday Night Live skit.

Do any of the American cable companies carry AJ? i would be surprised if they did but thought I'd ask.

My preference for news is still BBC but that is not meant as a slight against the American coverage.

I think we are seeing a real historical evolution in how television news covers and affects world events. That is probably a "duh" statement but I can't think of any time in the past that broadcast information has had this much influence on a day to day basis.
 

Shaky & Blue

Well-known member
One point that often gets lost in the emotional posturing is that Al Jazeera exists today in large part because of the protection of the United States.

Al Jazeera is owned and funded by the Emir of Qatar, who envisioned an Arabic news network that could bring a more fair and balanced news perspective to the Middle East than the programming on the other state owned television operations in the region. In reporting stories that otherwise would have been squashed in the other networks, Al Jazeera has managed to piss off just about every other Arab country, as well as conservative Islamic groups. The governments of several of these countries have pleaded and demanded that Qatar exercise more control over the network, and many threats have been made over negative coverage.

Qatar is a small country and wouldn't be able to resist these demands and threats, were it not for the presence and protection of the US military. Al Jazeera enjoys the benefits of this protection by extension. Without US protection, it is highly unlikely that Al Jazeera would still be operating; they would either have been shut down by a Qatari government bending under pressure, or they would have simply been bombed off the air.

I think it speaks volumes that, while the US has such a tremendous interest and influence in Qatar, Al Jazeera is still able to broadcast according to its own news philosophy without bending to pressure from even its protector. I think that says something about the Emir being able to protect a free press in his country; and I think it says something about the US, after everything else is said and done, recognizing the importance of a free press and backing off the pressure.

I also think it says something about this network when both sides are pissed off by its coverage. It indicates that perhaps they are doing their job.
 
S

<steede>

Guest
Good post Shaky and Blue :)

It's amazing how much war coverage is glossed over and filtered here in the US. Since we as a country are so enarmored with this war, I think news organizations should give people more of what they want. Violent crime is rampant everywhere in our society, news, television, film, video games, and music, why should the real thing be so censored??? Maybe if people knew what was really going on they would get off their high horses, and see how devastating this Iraq debacle is.

-steede
 

Lensmith

Member
Having Al Jazeera available to the general public here in Nicaragua, as well as other non US newscasts, has caused a lot of concern. So many Nicaraguan journalists are used to local news being slanted to whatever political party or rich guy runs the station. Despite that they have always considered the United States media a high example of what journalism SHOULD be. In their eyes an unachievable goal locally yet something to look up to. Asspire to emulate when possible.

Not one single local journalist I know, not to mention tons of regular Nicas, have been stunned by the war coverage. They are disappointed. Somewhat the same feeling a child might have finding out about Santa or the Easter Bunny. That's not me being cute with a description. It's the honest reaction I see. They have so many non US news sources available that they are able to compare side by side what is shown.

It's difficult to explain to them economics and any persons natural sense of patriotism affecting news judgement. It doesn't erase the unbelieving disappointment that there is no journalistic silver lining in the United States...or anywhere.

I do nothing to encourage their reaction but it has been an insight to me how my country, the US, is looked up to and can disappoint when we don't "live up to the sell" in the eyes of other countries.
 

Fisher

Well-known member
These embedded "journalists" combined with pro-American coverage of what is going on in Iraq is shaking the fundamentals of responsible journalism. Embedded journalists can only report a one-sided and American veiw of war. How can you objectivly cover an event if you spend all of your time with only one side of the story? These embedded "journalists" are putting out pro-American propaganda... NOT news.

The Big Three Networks and CNN's coverage is very much pro-American. Even the graphics have American flags all over the place. This "war" has made it evidently clear that this is a BUSINESS more concerned with ratings than responsible journalism. Americans don't want responsible reporting... they want American propaganda.

This is a sad time for journalism.
 
B

<Bill-1>

Guest
4 Canadian cable companines have applied to carry the AL Jazerra network. I hope they don't. I have heard about them showing some very disturbing images. I don't need to see that.
 
W

<WELL SAID>

Guest
Originally posted by <Bill-1>:
4 Canadian cable companines have applied to carry the AL Jazerra network. I hope they don't. I have heard about them showing some very disturbing images. I don't need to see that.
I'm with ya! Who needs to see the whole truth? It's better to pretend this is a war movie and we are the good guys never making a mistake.

Keep up the great work and don't let them put truth on your cable channel!
 

Lensmith

Member
The Al Jazeera signal here is straight off the bird with no translation.

In reference to an earlier post about "disturbing images" I really haven't seen anything that disturbing. The things which would probably upset some involve video of civilians. Many of them children. The local papers here run still photos on the front page. THOSE are disturbing and show graphic violence. But the reality is, that's war. Still those shots would never run in the states no matter what.

As far as the channel goes it's an exercise in patience. Not knowing the language can drive you nuts but they run so much raw tape and many times the nat sound is from US military people yelling or talking in English so you can still figure out what's going on.

I would rate their production level equal with CNN, FOX or most American networks. The only thing they don't have are the fancy graphics explaining the different weapons but other than that (and the language) it could be a all news cable channel from any country in the world.
 
cableworld

AL JAZEERA ON CABLE
Al Jazeera has inked a deal for U.S. cable carriage. The news network is now available via SCOLA, a not-for-profit organization that distributes foreign-language television programming for educational purposes. SCOLA's 59 cable affiliates can pick up Al Jazeera's unedited half-hour newscasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. EST. Al-Jazeera's Arabic newscasts are also available to cable systems from International Channel Networks.
 
T

<The truth>

Guest
[/QUOTE]I'm with ya! Who needs to see the whole truth? It's better to pretend this is a war movie and we are the good guys never making a mistake.

Keep up the great work and don't let them put truth on your cable channel![/QB][/QUOTE]

You just made every exec at ABC CBS NBC FOX and CNN smile. You are their audience. The rest of us would like the truth.
 
R

<renegade>

Guest
Shaky and blue is right. Also you will be able to see Al Jazeera in english shortly, to get a real balanced coverage of middle east news. Al Jazeera has an audience of 45 million people and are a 24 hr. satelite channel. The headquarter is in Doha, Qatar. (the allied have the headquarter there, remember....)We do our job (neutral) an have no interests with any side, and yes, we irritate arabs and american officials equally. We show videos and let real people speak out their minds. We cover news as they are, we do not make a show about the war. We have bureaus around the world and in US we are in Washington DC. We are expanding. In my 10 years of photog. in american commercial TV, I had never met so nicer people as I did in Al Jazeera. Greetings.
 
H

<huh>

Guest
Did you hear about the iraqis turning on the crew from Al Jazeera? What was that all about?
 
R

<renegade>

Guest
Yes, I did. They had an attitude toward a correspondent and a photog in Dearborn, Michigan. They were violent and physical. Police escorted the crew to a safer place and we could not do our job. I was told that around 500 irakis were there. I know why that happened, but unfortunately I can not comment on that issue. When you work in this business you can not make happy everyone.
 
A

<Al_Jazeera>

Guest
I think I read somewhere that they have an opening at their D.C. bureau.
 
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