Posted on 07/21/2004 7:38:49 PM PDT by Libloather
Arab TV to get inside DNC look: Al-Jazeera grabs spot in FleetCenter skybox
By Dave Wedge
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
It's been called everything from the CNN of the Arab world to Taliban TV.
Next week, though, the controversial Al-Jazeera network will for the first time at a political convention take its place alongside other major networks in a skybox, providing live coverage of the Democratic National Convention from the FleetCenter.
``We're basically just a bunch of hard-working people of every ethnic background, working very hard like everyone else in the news business,'' Washington-based Al-Jazeera producer Stephanie Thomas told the Herald.
Critics have charged that the Qatar-based network is a mouthpiece for Osama bin Laden because it has aired several unedited videos of the terrorist leader that some say could be spreading deadly messages to al-Qaeda sleeper cells. Adding fuel to the anti-American criticism is the network's airing of gruesome beheadings of captured Americans and others.
Thomas said the criticism is unfair.
``We're a news organization. We cover both sides of a news story,'' she said. ``I don't think anyone would deny that (a tape of) Osama bin Laden is newsworthy.''
Started eight years ago and funded by the Emir of Qatar, the network now has more than 40 million viewers worldwide and is considered the No. 1 news source in the Arab world. It is available in the United States on the DISH Network while Canadian officials recently gave permission for a censored version of the channel to air.
The network has a Washington bureau, and reporters have White House access and cover Congress. Al-Jazeera, which will be affiliated with ABC during the DNC, has 16 staffers covering the convention who will work out of a FleetCenter skybox alongside ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox.
The 24-hour news channel covered the 2000 conventions from the streets with a staff of three, Thomas said. The network also will have a box at the Republican National Convention at New York's Madison Square Garden next month.
DNC host committee spokeswoman Peggy Wilhide said Al-Jazeera employees went through the same National Press Gallery screening and credentialing process as other media.
You decide after we report...
Al Gore-Zeera.. otherwise known as TNN.. Terrorist News Network. Partners of the DNC and Kerry/Edwards '04 Campaign.
I think I actually view this as a good development. The way I see Al-Jazeera is here to stay. They might as well see how a democracy really works. Maybe this will end up bringing them more in line. Maybe not.
I don't intend to be unfair, but I hope that Al Jazeera doesn't bring along some canisters of sarin. I guess other agents would also work, but that would be soooo terrible.
Do foreign journalists usually attend American political conventions?
Why am I not surprised.
Imagine the EXCLUSIVES they'll have when the bombs start going off in Boston!
It'll be UNCANNY how A-J will just HAPPEN to be on the spot with film rolling < /Karnak >
Er um... and how many terrorists have disguised themselves as al Jazeera reporters... and they are letting them into the convention ... Oh man... this is just unbelieveable.
Does anyone know if the GOPers are stupid enough, as the liberal-demokkkRATs are, to even allow them into the RNC's Convention? I sure as hell wouldn't. They'd be banned everywhere, especially the White House and ALL gov't buildings.
According to the second to the last paragraph, the GOP are that stupid.
The network also will have a box at the Republican National Convention at New York's Madison Square Garden next month.
Sorry, didn't read that far down.
Thanks for the ping.
Governor Romney wanted to know why the 'rats wanted the Fleet Center when there was a brand new, taxpayer financed, Convention Center well off the major city arteries in South Boston costing 800 million, and begging for business. The 'rats told him to 'sod off'!
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