Thursday, October 12, 2006
Media Exercise 2: Aljazeera
Group 5:
Jill Selman
Sonia Knowles
Lynne Sullivant
Josh Amstutz
Aljazeera news service claims to provide "people with a refreshing new perspective on global events." In undertaking this role, the news service also claims that it embraces objectivity, accuracy, and a passion for truth. However, Aljazeera faces a credibility problem as it negotiates a range of challenges to deliver news within the political, cultural and economic dynamics of the Middle East.
Jill Selman
Sonia Knowles
Lynne Sullivant
Josh Amstutz
Aljazeera news service claims to provide "people with a refreshing new perspective on global events." In undertaking this role, the news service also claims that it embraces objectivity, accuracy, and a passion for truth. However, Aljazeera faces a credibility problem as it negotiates a range of challenges to deliver news within the political, cultural and economic dynamics of the Middle East.
- How did Aljazeera evolve as a news service that serves both regional and global audiences?
- Under what media philosophy does Aljazeera operate within the Middle East context and how is this philosophy reflected in its regional and global news coverage?
- How is Aljazeera perceived internationally?
- How does Aljazeera balance economic and ideological pressures to meet its professional and ethical goals?
- What economic, cultural and political challenges does Aljazeera face in establishing itself as an objective, accurate and truthful media service for its diverse audiences?
One way of addressing this focus is to assign each person in your group with a question. Make certain that you answer the questions as fully as possible by consulting a range of sources.
The following resources will get you started:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5D7F956E-6B52-46D9-8D17-448856D01CDB.htm
http://www.allied-media.com/aljazeera/
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/121885.php
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Al_Jazeera
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1892464,00.html
Your deadline to submit these responses is: Friday, October 20, at 5pm. However, you should post your comments as soon as possible so people can comment to assist you develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of the issues.
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Al-Jazeera question 3: How's Al-Jazeera perceived Internationally?
Across the globe Al-Jazeera has followers as well as critics. Arab Diaspora sees Al-Jazeera as their cultural link and as a source of clean and honest information. However, within the Arab world, many states have cancel Al-Jazeera’s signal and programs because of its flaming content. The TV broadcaster is not afraid to denounce governments and government imposed policies in the Arab World, regardless of how politically and culturally incorrect this is. It is critical to highlight that in Arab culture it is not well seen to comment or criticize what the neighbor does.
Countries outside the Middle East are in its majority critical of Al-jazeera calling it overly sensational. In the United Kingdom, the Al-Jazeera was called a “mouthpiece” and in the United States, it was labeled as a terrorist broadcaster because of the footage showing Osama Bin Laden and several beheadings; in fact Americans believe Al-Jazeera to be Al-Qaeda’s mouthpiece. Joanne Levine an executive at Al-Jazeera, says that the news network is often victim of racism and stereotyping. On the broadcaster’s behalf and against all these accusations Wadah Khanfar, director- general of Al-Jazeera says: We have regularly been accused of showing beheadings of hostages, but Al-Jazeera has never shown any material of this nature.”
Across the globe Al-Jazeera has followers as well as critics. Arab Diaspora sees Al-Jazeera as their cultural link and as a source of clean and honest information. However, within the Arab world, many states have cancel Al-Jazeera’s signal and programs because of its flaming content. The TV broadcaster is not afraid to denounce governments and government imposed policies in the Arab World, regardless of how politically and culturally incorrect this is. It is critical to highlight that in Arab culture it is not well seen to comment or criticize what the neighbor does.
Countries outside the Middle East are in its majority critical of Al-jazeera calling it overly sensational. In the United Kingdom, the Al-Jazeera was called a “mouthpiece” and in the United States, it was labeled as a terrorist broadcaster because of the footage showing Osama Bin Laden and several beheadings; in fact Americans believe Al-Jazeera to be Al-Qaeda’s mouthpiece. Joanne Levine an executive at Al-Jazeera, says that the news network is often victim of racism and stereotyping. On the broadcaster’s behalf and against all these accusations Wadah Khanfar, director- general of Al-Jazeera says: We have regularly been accused of showing beheadings of hostages, but Al-Jazeera has never shown any material of this nature.”
These are generally good, informative responses that show a reasonably diverse range of sources.
One of the key points here is to focus on weighing Al-Jazeera's journalism focus (truth) etc. with the realities of global and regional political pressures. This is one of the reasons I asked about media philosophies (as we touched on earlier in the semester). And this is one aspect I'm not sure was applied adequately. The reason is that Al-Jazeera is operating from a journalism perspective using a western media philosophy model (which needs to be identified) but dealing with a Middle Eastern context. It is here where I think there lies some interesting dynamics for you to explore in the presentation.
On a related issue, it is interesting to note that on one hand the US government preaches freedom of speech but criticize those who criticize the US. This is to the point that the US was thinking of bombing Al-Jazeera offices (WTF). The accusation of course is that Al-Jazeera is a propaganda machine for Islamic fundamentalism. I don't see this, even with the beheadings. Ok, it does not fit with our value system in relation to broadcasting such images. But doesn't this kind of broadcasting raise opposition to fundamentialist islamic groups. Isn't reporting the news the role and responsibility of the media? Just because it is not pitched as info-tainment like US news is packaged, does that make it less credible or more credible?
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One of the key points here is to focus on weighing Al-Jazeera's journalism focus (truth) etc. with the realities of global and regional political pressures. This is one of the reasons I asked about media philosophies (as we touched on earlier in the semester). And this is one aspect I'm not sure was applied adequately. The reason is that Al-Jazeera is operating from a journalism perspective using a western media philosophy model (which needs to be identified) but dealing with a Middle Eastern context. It is here where I think there lies some interesting dynamics for you to explore in the presentation.
On a related issue, it is interesting to note that on one hand the US government preaches freedom of speech but criticize those who criticize the US. This is to the point that the US was thinking of bombing Al-Jazeera offices (WTF). The accusation of course is that Al-Jazeera is a propaganda machine for Islamic fundamentalism. I don't see this, even with the beheadings. Ok, it does not fit with our value system in relation to broadcasting such images. But doesn't this kind of broadcasting raise opposition to fundamentialist islamic groups. Isn't reporting the news the role and responsibility of the media? Just because it is not pitched as info-tainment like US news is packaged, does that make it less credible or more credible?
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