Al Jazeera English: The Image Problem
- Posted by: Patrick James
- on April 4, 2007 at 5:11 pm
The curious thing about 24-hour global news networks is that each one attempts to sell itself as being the lone bastion of honesty in a great muddled mess of media spin. The notion of a singular, trusted news source is wonderful. But singularities run the risk of becoming myopias. It’s through a multiplicity of sources that we can begin to grasp to the reality of the world at large. That in mind, GOOD has opted to take a look into the world of Al-Jazeera English, a new voice contributing to the ever-evolving global media dialogue. This video investigates the network’s inception, attempting to come to terms with the controversy surrounding it. At this point, at least stateside, the conversation regarding Al-Jazeera is pretty polarized. Hell, only Burlington, VT and Toledo, OH have picked up the station. So speak up, tell us what you think, and offer your two cents to this ongoing exchange of ideas.
An original GOOD Video presentation:[good width="560" height="316" image="http://post.cloudfront.goodinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/jazeera2.jpg"]http://pre.cloudfront.goodinc.com/videos/al_jazeera.mp4[/good]
DISCUSSION: 13 Comments
This was an interesting glimpse into what seems to be a perpetual evolution of the Al Jazeera Network. From what I can tell, AJ definitely is more of a positive influence than not in that they are willing to communicate an accurate reflection of what is going on in the Middle East even as the US Gov’t paints them as viscious/inaccurate/careless. For now no one stateside has picked up the network, but I would not be surprised if that were to happen in the near future.
Loved the music and the editing of this piece. GOOD!
This brings to mind the controversy in Canada when the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was considering approval of Al-Jazeera for broadcast and within following months Fox News. Comparisons were made across both sides to one sided journalism and the encouragement of extremism. Opponents for both made claims that if you allow one extreme you must allow the other. I thought it was interesting that Al-Jazeera and Fox News were painted with the same brush. Both have since been approved. Sadly Fox News has been picked up in far more locations that Al-Jazeera. Widely differing opinions are valuable only when you can hear them from both sides.
Loved the video. It’s a sad thing that we’re so polarized in this country. Wornder if we’ll get over that one in my lifetime…
The music was great. Anyone know who it is?
The music is by San Francisco’s Vetiver
http://www.goodmagazine.com/user/vetiver
Don’t get me wrong… I’m as American as it gets. However, I like to find out about the 80 percent of the world we don’t hear about on mainstream news. In other words, most of the world. I don’t think AJ is biased, I think they just report the rest of the news (which I can’t get from bbc, cnn, cbs, etc).
I watch AJ online… doesn’t matter to me if they can’t get a cable contract.
Personally I like Al Jazeera and any other news station that doesn’t skew their news to be pro-USA. I wish the station would be picked up, but we all know this probably won’t happen. The stigma is too great, to many fanatics the act of watching this station is terrorism. Companies will not want to be associated with it, and honestly how many Americans are really going to watch it. Most prefer mindless reality shows over news. I wish it were different, at least it is accesible on the net.
Al Jazeera is a well respected news agency in most of the world that reports things as they see them, it wouldn’t hurt most Americans to take a look at how we are viewed by people in other countries.
And why are people in the US biased against AJ? Because Al Qaeda chooses to send their videos to them…and they air them? I suppose CNN or BBC would just throw them away if Al Qaeda decided to send them their way? If this is the reason why people in the US hate them maybe we should all start hating NBC for airing videos of the psychopath at Virgina Tech, after all that’s exactly what he wanted.
Nice video, I’ve seen a bit of AJ but will make a point of catching it more often now. I think the part about getting your news from a variety of sources then making up your own mind is spot on. However, I fail to see though how Fox and AJ can both be called extreme. Fox – sure, the spin is clear as day. But AJ? I realise bias is inherent in everything as we all filter the world differently, but comparing the two is like comparing Godzilla and a gecko, no? Anyways, this site is great
Has anyone here watched AJ along with Fox and other networks often? I would like to hear their opinions of the new network, seeing as everyone else has only had sporadic experiences with AJ, atleast from their comments.
While on my trip in Peru, I was shocked that they had Al Jazeera in ENGLISH! But, I think it would be great for Americans to atleast change their perspective on the eastern world; and Al Jazeera is the way to go!
I can’t understand what the problem is, wspecially with the American news programs. It either has to be capitalistic or they are exactly what everyone says they are – non-news organizations that are afraid that someone will actually deliver the news. Otherwise, “It’s free speech baby”, sorry if it isn’t what you want to hear, sorry if it conflicts with your beliefs of reality, but I want to see the world, and even CNN doesn’t do that unless there is a direct American interest in them broadcasting.Is Al-Jazeera unbiased? is Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS. The U.S. government should fund Al-Jazeera in English, like they fund public radio, to promote free speeach, free exchange of ideas, plurality in this country.Our press used to convey images of dead soldiers in vietnam. Our reporters used to work at uncovering corruption and greed, Our news outlest used to be concerned with delivering the news, not making the news. HAs greed, corruption, war, and truth been dissolved? because you don’t see it on American News programs anymore.I want the truth. And, I don’t care where it comes from. I want the United States to be the benefactor of mankind, not to be made the image of the benefactor of mankind. How do we look to everyone else?
Interesting recap. I am living in the middle east. The US has been funding an Arabic channel called “Al-Hurra” (the free) in in both television and radio. Russia behind “Russia Today”, Germany behind “DW-TV”, China too and many more. All of which is Arabic speaking and trying to reach out to the middle east and provide each one’s perspective on what’s happening.I would love if the west can see AJ, i guess it reflects the way we (middle eastrans) see the world.
There is a major “turf war” in the US about not letting Al Jazeera proliferate. It’s one of the most interesting channels out there and their documentaries about the US are amazingly incisive. Their editorial content is superb and makes you wonder why BBC and CNN always do run of the mill topics.Not a lot of people know about a US marine named Josh Rushing, who used to be the media face during the Gulf War actually joining Al Jazeera as a reporter. http://www.joshrushing.com/If most Americans saw this channel, it would FREE THEIR MIND!