Krishna Mantravadi
Lesley Anne Mendonca
Chantel
Vidisha Babbili
Team: Al-Jazeera
Al-Jazeera – Role Profile
Introduction
You probably heard of us on September 11, 2001. We were the mostly unknown news agency out of Qatarwho brought you exclusive videos of Osama Bin Laden and other major terrorists proclaiming victory after the terrorist attacks [3]. We also showed you footage of Arabs celebrating the success of the terror attacks on US soil in the streets of Arab cities that shocked and dismayed America. You can think of us as the CNN of the Middle East, bringing you stories, documentaries, and interviews of major issues facing all Arabs and the effects of these issues worldwide. We are the largest, politically independent and credible TV station in the Middle East [1].The western media does not understand the Middle East like we do, for we are from here, and we understand the conflicts, the passion, and the hate that has engulfed our region. We provide a truly unique Middle Eastern view in the international news arena.
Policies and Issues
We believe the western media does not accurately represent the plight of the Palestinians in their coverage of Middle East politics. Our aim is the properly portray the miserable conditions of the Palestinian people who suffer constantly under the brutal and inhuman policies of the Israeli government. We also wish to show the world that American support of Israel is based on outdated policies and philosophies that should not be part of the 21st century foreign policy. American invasion and occupation of Iraq is another issue central in our programming. We show footage of civilian casualties that are largely ignored by the western media and call out American commanders for atrocities committed by the American military in Iraq [2]. One must not think of our news network as being biased towards a pro-Arab stand. We pride ourselves on being fair and balanced and showing both sides of the issue. While we may be critical of Israeli policies, we also investigate corrupt and unfair practices in various Arab governments and have been banned from broadcasting in the state of Bahrain for our “Pro Israeli” stances on some issues [1].We are THE news network for the average Arab viewer. We are on the scene at all major Middle Eastern events, gauging the reactions of the common man, while bringing their views to TV sets all over the world. We give the downtrodden, desperate, on-the-street-Arab a chance to voice his opinions. By providing an outlet for long repressed Arab voices, we hope to increase awareness of Arab issues throughout the world.
Viewer-ship
Though our primary audience is the common man in the Middle East, we have also drawn a large audience from the western world. Our exclusive interviews are rebroadcast by leading western news stations like CNN and the BBC [3]. Our award winning programming like documentaries on the wretched conditions in Palestinian refugee camps that breed terror has won worldwide acclaim. We also maintain an online presence on both Arabic language and English website that are accessed by millions of users.Our news programs are viewed in millions of Arab households who have started to act on the injustices that are revealed in our news stories. By informing and educating the Arab world, we can ensure that Arabs are in a position to make educated decisions on crucial policy questions and to hold their governments accountable.
Mission Statement
We hope to use our position as a leading Middle Eastern news agency to provide an objective look at the various issues currently faced by the region and ensure that all sides of the issue are fairly portrayed. We will keep the Israeli and American government policies and actions under continuous scrutiny, bring injustices and atrocities out in the open, highlight stories that are rarely carried in the western media, investigate cases of corruption in the Arab government, and provide a voice for the common Arab.
Sources
- Al-Jazeera TV: Arabic News Satellite Channel,
- Network Air Tape of Russian Hostages in Iraq,
- Al-Jazeera,