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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAl Jazeera America
Noting the Al Jazeera America hires I've seen reported (David Shuster being the latest), I'm looking forward to trying this new option for news about current events. My hope is that they will be a truly objective source.
Anyone else have thoughts or opinions regarding Al Jazeera America?
djean111
(14,255 posts)Soledad O'Brien is a good hire.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)As the new US network is finally set to launch, serious concerns arise about its brand and intent: especially from within the organization
Glenn Greenwald
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 14 July 2013
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The alternative was that AJAM (Al Jazeera America) could try to replicate the inoffensive, neutered, voiceless, pro-US-government model favored by most US news organizations: as a way of appeasing negative perceptions associated with the Al Jazeera brand in the US. Those perceptions in some American precincts - that the network is "anti-American", "anti-Israel" or even "pro-terrorist"- stem from the network's coverage of US foreign policy (especially the War on Terror) that has been far more critical (in the best sense of the word) than most US news outlets were willing to be. For years, Bush officials fed this perception by accusing the network of being an anti-American source of terrorist propaganda. The US (accidentally, it claims) attacked al Jazeera bureaus on two occasions, killing its personnel. It even imprisoned an al Jazeera camerman, Sami al-Haj, for six years in Guantanamo without ever charging him with a crime.
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Earlier this week, Bishara sent a scathing 1,800-word email to multiple Al Jazeera executives, directed particularly at those overseeing the new network. The missive, a copy of which was provided to the Guardian and whose receipt was confirmed by AJAM executives (published here), excoriates network officials for running away from the Jazeera brand due both to "the rush to act out of a personal ambition" and "to appease those who won't, or don't necessarily want to be, appeased". Such a re-branding effort, he wrote, "insult(s) the intelligence of the American people". Bishara was especially incensed at the efforts he said the executives have undertaken to avoid having the news network be labeled "anti-American".
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Based on that report and others, Burman wrote that one must have "completely lost your marbles" to believe that "American viewers will turn away from their current channels and switch to Al Jazeera to get their American news". Moreover, said the former AJE chief, "the rumoured shortlist of potential 'presidents' includes several of the people who have driven US cable networks, including CNN, to a level of utter mediocrity." It has been reported that the list of finalists to run the network include former CNN executives along with one from ABC.
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One Al Jazeera insider, granted anonymity to speak critically of his employer, said one central problem was that the new network was relying heavily on risk-adverse US consulting and lobbying firms such as DLA Piper, Qorvis Communications, and David Alexrod's consulting group, "all of whom don't understand the Jazeera brand or the industry." He added that the consultants guiding network officials are squarely "from the American mainstream, not the critical left or even a critical movement that could speak for millions of people." He added that the Massad Op-Ed was taken down at the urging of a DLA Piper consultant, petrified of what impact it would have on the new AJAM brand. Al Shihabi's publicly trumpeted meeting with Emanuel was arranged by people who worked for Alexrod, he said.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/14/al-jazeera-marwan-bishara-email
Rahm Emanuel.... David Axelrod... risk-averse consulting firms... what a joke. If this interests you, I recommend you read the whole article.
Ehab Al Shihabi, executive director of Al Jazeeras international operations, with Mayor Emanuel
http://america.aljazeera.com/update/al-jazeera-america-visits-chicago
gvstn
(2,805 posts)Comcast will put it so high up the list of channels that unless you have the super-premium package one won't even get a chance to evaluate it. They've always had FoxNews in the most basic tier so it is available to your automotive repair shop and put MSNBC higher up the list so it goes to a premium tier. Al Jazeera will definitely go to at least the third tier so few Comcast users will see it.
House of Roberts
(5,174 posts)Both are on the same digital tier, but MSNBC is available on a basic subscription while Current isn't part of that. I'm considering turning in the digital converter if AJAM doesn't live up to my expectations. I'll miss the DVR feature, but it'd be a lot cheaper. They could possible keep me if they keep The Young Turks after the switch. I'll have to see what's available online also. I'm about ready to go to all internet TV.
gvstn
(2,805 posts)I think I have gone down one tier in the last couple of years to save money. I get about 120 channels but Current is blocked. In my area MSNBC is 56 and Current is 107. I get channels like H2 and BBCA that are 116 and 114 respectively but can't get Current. Seems to me they have relegated it to a third tier even though I do get channels with a higher number.
I remember them doing that with MSNBC back when Donahue was still on. I could keep CNN and FOX on a basic tier but if I wanted MSNBC I had to go with a higher tier. That is what I did so I think I am on some middle tier but not high enough to get Current.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)I think we didn't get Current because that's where Keith Olberman went when he was let go from msnbc - and Comcast was buying msnbc at that time - no friendship between KO and Comcast from what we heard at the time...
Mosby
(16,317 posts)http://www.globalresearch.ca/al-jazeera-from-media-power-to-laughing-stock/30159
Unfortunately their agenda is the promotion of fanaticism and anti-human rights.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)I hope Al Jazeera America is the same. But considering that even CNN and BBC dumb things down for their American audiences - I fear they might do the same. But I will wait and see.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)do just that. Hopefully, wiser heads will prevail. Otherwise I will just keep streaming Al Jazeera, English.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)do just that. Hopefully, wiser heads will prevail. Otherwise I will just keep streaming Al Jazeera, English.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)than their versions that are packaged for an American audience. In fact there is absolutely no comparison. CNN and BBC assume when they broadcast to the Middle East a far, far more intelligent, far, far more knowledgeable, a far,far more intellectually sophisticated, a far, far more skeptical and critical thinker and far, far more engaged listener or viewer than when they broadcast to America.
ablamj
(333 posts)"The network is retaining roughly 150 employees of Current TV, but none of its on-air personalities."
That's a big negative for me!
bhcodem
(231 posts)I'd be sure to check them out if they kept John Fugelsang!
Cleita
(75,480 posts)I do hope they work this out and don't become CNN and MSNBC clones.
AllINeedIsCoffee
(772 posts)But I will certainly miss seeing Stephanie Miller on Current. She's a breath of fresh air amidst all the unfair criticism of this administration.
dembotoz
(16,806 posts)cable
have seen news reports from al Jazeera from time to time and they were interesting