Al-Jazeera Launches Site In English (from Wall Street Journal article)

WSJ via Yahoo ^ | March 25, 2003 | Josef Federman

[FairOpinion]

The Wall Street Journal Online

Al-Jazeera went live early yesterday with its English-language Web site -- and the Qatar-based satellite network immediately assumed a posture likely to provoke Western readers.

The site ( http://english.aljazeera.net ) has promised to offer a different perspective than those of Western media and has stuck to its word. Its graphic photos of dead U.S. soldiers, pointed headlines and opinionated articles -- many of them without reporters' bylines -- will provide plenty of fodder for critics of the Middle Eastern news organization. The content is produced separately from its Arabic-language counterpart.

The al-Jazeera Arabic satellite channel, which drew criticism for airing Osama bin Laden's unedited comments after the Sept. 11, 2001, hijack attacks in the U.S., attracted further rebukes Sunday by broadcasting Iraqi television footage showing five U.S. prisoners of war. Articles on the English-language site's first day were sure to antagonize American readers. One feature looked at the influence of the Israeli lobby in Washington. Another, headlined "Coalition of the Willing Has Become a Joke," made light of the "obscure" countries in the U.S.-led coalition. Another, titled "Misinformation Basra," cast doubt on American military assertions about its military success in the southern Iraqi city.

Yet the site also showed its potential as an information resource. An eyewitness account from a correspondent in Baghdad described damage from U.S. bombing to civilian areas and a historic palace. Like many other articles, the item gave no information about its writer and was simply attributed to "al-Jazeera."

Managing Editor Joanne Tucker, a former BBC journalist who holds dual U.S.-British citizenship and speaks Arabic, has promised Western-style standards of journalism. She said she stands by all the articles but conceded that the site has to do more to clarify what is news and what is opinion.

Al-Jazeera has correspondents in nearly all of Iraq's major battle zones, including Basra, Mosul and Baghdad, Ms. Tucker said. She said readers can expect bylined pieces, more breaking news and eyewitness reporting as the site develops. "Right now, we just wanted to get the site live," she said.

The site had a bare-bones appearance on its first day and was limited to coverage of the Iraqi conflict. In time, it plans to offer broader coverage of Mideast events. Traffic to al-Jazeera was light, Ms. Tucker said. "I don't think anybody really knows about it."

[FairOpinion]

They have the gall to call themselves:

"Al Jazeera- objective and balanced global news coverage and analysis".

Can't we have an "errant" missile just "accidentally" hit them?

[piasa]

We should take it down. Someone on Fox today said it was at least partly funded by Saddam Hussein. (As if that doesn't look obvious enough given their content.)

[Brad's Gramma]

Where's the geeks? Take it DOWN!

[Bogey78O]

I'm sure the entire world would soon tire of hearing "it's all the Jews fault" or "...Sharon and his puppet Bush".

[Torie]

Actually, I think the network is a good thing. It is uncensored, and I don't think under anyone's particular control. A diversity of opinion is a good thing. Debate is a good thing. But we shall see, now that it has a site in English. It will be interesting to see if the English site has the same stuff as the Arabic site. A divergence would cause the network to lose credibility.

[Thane_Banquo]

Can't we have an "errant" missile just "accidentally" hit them?

In Afghanistan, a bomb "accidentally" landed in the Al Jazeera station in Kabul. I don't think it was an accident, though.

Al Jazeera is the de facto propaganda machine for Bin Laden and the Islamist movement. I hope our government is monitoring its bank accounts for transfers of funds from Al Qaeda et al.

[Thane_Banquo]

Would you say Joseph Goebbels propaganda represented positive diversity of opinion? Al Jazeera is for all intents and purposes the propaganda ministry of Al Qaeda and other Islamists. It is not a legitimate news source in any way.

[Torie]

I don't think I agree with you. They do have various folks with a diversity of opinion. But it reflects the center of gravity in the Arab world overall, just as Foxnews represents the center of gravity of conservative opinion. We may not agree with that opinion, but I don't think that makes it propaganda. But I will try to watch and wait, now that they are offering up stuff in English. At bottom, I guess I am just less threatened by this sort of thing than you are. And I guess I am a champion of free speech. I always have been, and always will be, even when it becomes quite unpleasant.

[piasa]

Some sources say it's funded by the Qatari government, one even says Egypt but that sounds like it's out in left field since it's based in Qatar. It would be interesting to find out for certain, does anyone have a reliable source on its backing?

I doubt very much that it is "independent."

Of course, considering how nasty "independent" US media outlets are, the spin isn't much different from Dan Rather.

From what some source said on the talking head shows, we're not hitting Bagdhad TV because we have word there are kids in or around the building. as a result, the Baathists are able to keep their population in doubt about the state of their leadership and their ability to suppress any dissident groups, as far as any Iraqi knows, has not been hindered. Presumably they can also signal their fighters and agents via their broadcasts, even worldwide thanks to al Jazeera and others.

Al Jazeera and other outlets are probably free of the human shield problem, though. Could be interesting.

[FairOpinion]

"Actually, I think the network is a good thing. It is uncensored, and I don't think under anyone's particular control."
-----
I have bridges and land to sell you, I could even sell you a couple of Saddam's palaces. Cheap!

Be serious. Al Jazeera is funded by the various terrorist elements,from Al Qaeda to the Palestinians, to Saddam and it's their mouthpiece. To say that Al Jazeera is uncensored is about the same as to say that the Iraqi media is uncensored.

[Thane_Banquo]

We may not agree with that opinion, but I don't think that makes it propaganda.

Then why do they report as fact the claims of the Hussein regime that America is targeting civilians?

[TBP]

Even though Qatar is an ally, I would still bomb al Jazeera.

[Thane_Banquo]

I should probably rephrase that, since I'm not sure what they report about whether the US is targeting civilians:

Why do they show pictures of civilians supposedly killed by US bombing when those bodies are supplied to them by the Hussein regime, which is significantly less trustworthy than a pathological liar moonlighting as a used car salesman?

[Torie]

They just report. You guys need to offer up some more detail to make your case. And that is impossible, unless you speak Arabic I suspect, just as I can't make mine. It is based on general impressions. I do note they stopped broadcasting the American captive film after the Geneva Convention issue came up, even though probably it should have been broadcasted in general, with the faces blanked out.

[Thane_Banquo]

Check out the site: http://english.aljazeera.net

They quote as fact the death toll in Basra given by the Iraqi Information Minister, without even a disclaimer about the lack of credibility of the Ba'athist regime.

[mcenedo]

I'm sure Dan Rather would love to contribute to the site. He could include a link to his own website.

(As if Al-Jazeeria didn't have Dan's site already bookmarked.)

[Torie]

The link doesn't work. I suppose one test is if they report the US denial as well, or comment.

[Wavyhill]

Objectively balanced between Baathist Fascists and Islamofascists.

[FairOpinion]

Sure it does. If this doesn't come out as a link, try pasting it.

http://english.aljazeera.net

[HAL9000]

aljazeera.net requires a Microsoft operating system and web browser in order to be viewed. If it's not working with your system, you can try this link -

http://english.aljazeera.net/topics/index.asp?cu_no=1&lng=0&template_id=5&temp_type=44

[Torie]

The link finally worked. You are right. There is no semblance of balance. It seems more like an agitprop site, done quite skillfully, which is unusual for Arabs, who usually go so over the top, that they seem more like clowns at a circus than anything else. I retract my statements, all of them, at least for the time being. But the network still has a right to broadcast. And it is good that they are doing so in English, so we can monitor them. It would be good of LeMonde published an English version as well, so we could monitor anti American left wing French opinion as well. Keep you friends close, and your enemies even closer.

[FairOpinion]

"But the network still has a right to broadcast."

----

Not if they are a terrorist front.

[freedom44]

EuroNews which i receive on Satellite TV is far more anti-American and anti-US than any station airing our of the middle east. We're just so perplexed by propaganda and inability to reason that we're stunned by even the smallest event coming from the Middle East while giving the Europeans a free ride on everything.

If you honestly think the Al-Jazera is anti-Israel propaganda i suggest watching European Media for a day or two.

[taxed2death]

People like you make me laugh. What do you think OUR sanitized news services are, but propaganda.

Shheeeesh, pull your head out of your a$$.

[taxed2death]

......let me guess, you think the US corporate media is free from propaganda? You don't think US media is not the mouth piece of US governments veiw on things?


Please.

[tuckrdout]

Looks like the geeks heeded your words!! YIPEE!

[tuckrdout]

Still out! hehehehe!

[Brad's Gramma]

I have such power! Wow!

OK, Geeks, keep it up. Keep the stupid thing OFF for good. While you're at it, start working on their other networks.

Thank you.

[Yehuda]

" I'm sure the entire world would soon tire of hearing "it's all the Jews fault" or "...Sharon and his puppet Bush". "

I think not.. - theres hundreds (at least) of them here...