AL JAZEERA AMERICA will You Watch
Options
waterproof
Members Posts: 9,412 ✭✭✭✭✭
There's much to be said about Al-Jazeera recent agreement to purchase Al Gore's Current TV.
Last week, critics from across the spectrum voiced their outrage at the Qatar based network $500 million dollar purchase of Current TV. There were the progressives, who expressed their discontent with Gore, the environmentalist who had sold Current to oil-rich executives from Qatar. Then there were conservatives, who expressed outrage that Gore had sold Current to the owners of the so-called "terrorist network" after passing on a previous bid from Glenn Beck because his brand did not align with his network's mission. There was even grumblings from Current TV employees who believed their network's mission had been sold out.
It is important to step back from the immediate controversy over the deal and to evaluate what it means for media in this country and for American consumption of world news. On the one hand, this deal will likely lead to the end of Current TV as we know it—a sad realism for those who believed the network could eventually become a progressive leader in cable news. On the other hand, it means that Al-Jazeera will now reach over 40 million American households. Though many critics of the network have expressed concern, Al-Jazeera America is good news for world news.
Founded in 1996, Al-Jazeera's introduction to many Americans came post-9/11. As we sought to make sense of what had happened and learn more about the people behind the attacks that changed our nation. Then, the network was seen by many Americans as the network that played footage of terrorists in training camps in Afghanistan or in front of white sheets claiming credit for American casualties. That association, however powerful it remains in the minds of many Americans, does not tell the full story of the network.
For those who lament the lack of international news coverage, Al-Jazeera America is a promising development. Its coverage of global stories has guided the network's growth from the first uncensored network in the Arab world to a major voice in the global south. Today, Al-Jazeera can been seen in over 220 million households and in more than 120 countries. From reporting on the war on terror to unrest in sub-Saharan Africa, the network has reported world news from a unique perspective. But perhaps it is in the early stages of stories like the U.S. use of drones and the Arab Spring, which often required truncated history lessons from many American cable news outlets, that best illustrate the value of Al-Jazeera in the media landscape.
With 60 percent of production for Al-Jazeera America being produced here in the states and 40 percent being produced by the network's Al-Jazeera English brand, the new network will not only cover the world, it will cover the stories happening within our country. It will be welcomed to see the domestic issues and internal debates put into a larger global context. That editorial perspective is often lacking on both network and cable news organizations and is so often desperately needed. For a recent example, one only need to look at the gun control debate that has been renewed in the wake of the tragedy of the Newton shooting. Besides charts and graphs comparing gun sales in the U.S. to gun sales in Japan, there has been very little substantive reporting by television networks on the impact of guns in America verses elsewhere in the world.
Without a global context in reporting, American public policy debates often occur in a bubble void of legitimate guides from other places in the world. On the rare occasion that the media chooses to place a domestic debate into a global context, the news narrative quickly gravitates to sophomoric comparisons. During the healthcare debate, the references to other nations with a nationalized healthcare system were few and far between but when they did occur, they often included labeling other countries a socialist states or claiming, baselessly, that their systems were failures. Instead of a comprehensive look at how nationalized healthcare had affected the lives of people in countries that had such systems, journalists on major networks in this country argued against healthcare reform citing "the British and their bad teeth."
Even after they surmount the challenges of finalizing this new deal, they will have to work to turn their newfound access into viewership. After a decade of negative associations from many, Al-Jazeera will need to provide quality and compelling journalism in the face of lingering Islamophobia and ignorant attacks. It's a daunting task, but if it succeeds, it could bring a perspective long missing from the conversation. Our country's fervent belief in the right to free speech is at the heart of who we are, rooted in the idea that information empowers. Its uphill battle is sure to continue, but Al-Jazeera America could be a good reminder of the purpose that right serves.
Last week, critics from across the spectrum voiced their outrage at the Qatar based network $500 million dollar purchase of Current TV. There were the progressives, who expressed their discontent with Gore, the environmentalist who had sold Current to oil-rich executives from Qatar. Then there were conservatives, who expressed outrage that Gore had sold Current to the owners of the so-called "terrorist network" after passing on a previous bid from Glenn Beck because his brand did not align with his network's mission. There was even grumblings from Current TV employees who believed their network's mission had been sold out.
It is important to step back from the immediate controversy over the deal and to evaluate what it means for media in this country and for American consumption of world news. On the one hand, this deal will likely lead to the end of Current TV as we know it—a sad realism for those who believed the network could eventually become a progressive leader in cable news. On the other hand, it means that Al-Jazeera will now reach over 40 million American households. Though many critics of the network have expressed concern, Al-Jazeera America is good news for world news.
Founded in 1996, Al-Jazeera's introduction to many Americans came post-9/11. As we sought to make sense of what had happened and learn more about the people behind the attacks that changed our nation. Then, the network was seen by many Americans as the network that played footage of terrorists in training camps in Afghanistan or in front of white sheets claiming credit for American casualties. That association, however powerful it remains in the minds of many Americans, does not tell the full story of the network.
For those who lament the lack of international news coverage, Al-Jazeera America is a promising development. Its coverage of global stories has guided the network's growth from the first uncensored network in the Arab world to a major voice in the global south. Today, Al-Jazeera can been seen in over 220 million households and in more than 120 countries. From reporting on the war on terror to unrest in sub-Saharan Africa, the network has reported world news from a unique perspective. But perhaps it is in the early stages of stories like the U.S. use of drones and the Arab Spring, which often required truncated history lessons from many American cable news outlets, that best illustrate the value of Al-Jazeera in the media landscape.
With 60 percent of production for Al-Jazeera America being produced here in the states and 40 percent being produced by the network's Al-Jazeera English brand, the new network will not only cover the world, it will cover the stories happening within our country. It will be welcomed to see the domestic issues and internal debates put into a larger global context. That editorial perspective is often lacking on both network and cable news organizations and is so often desperately needed. For a recent example, one only need to look at the gun control debate that has been renewed in the wake of the tragedy of the Newton shooting. Besides charts and graphs comparing gun sales in the U.S. to gun sales in Japan, there has been very little substantive reporting by television networks on the impact of guns in America verses elsewhere in the world.
Without a global context in reporting, American public policy debates often occur in a bubble void of legitimate guides from other places in the world. On the rare occasion that the media chooses to place a domestic debate into a global context, the news narrative quickly gravitates to sophomoric comparisons. During the healthcare debate, the references to other nations with a nationalized healthcare system were few and far between but when they did occur, they often included labeling other countries a socialist states or claiming, baselessly, that their systems were failures. Instead of a comprehensive look at how nationalized healthcare had affected the lives of people in countries that had such systems, journalists on major networks in this country argued against healthcare reform citing "the British and their bad teeth."
Even after they surmount the challenges of finalizing this new deal, they will have to work to turn their newfound access into viewership. After a decade of negative associations from many, Al-Jazeera will need to provide quality and compelling journalism in the face of lingering Islamophobia and ignorant attacks. It's a daunting task, but if it succeeds, it could bring a perspective long missing from the conversation. Our country's fervent belief in the right to free speech is at the heart of who we are, rooted in the idea that information empowers. Its uphill battle is sure to continue, but Al-Jazeera America could be a good reminder of the purpose that right serves.
AL JERREZA AMERICA will You Watch 27 votes
This is the first step to Sharia Law in America
7%
2 votes
I will not watch or support the Network of "terrorist descent"
3%
1 vote
ALLAHU AKBAR
7%
2 votes
I didn't know Al Jaerrau have a News Network
0%
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiased
62%
17 votes
As a Christian i will not watch Al Jerreza America
0%
Didn't we try this ? with BCC
3%
1 vote
President Barack Hussein Obama is a Secret Muslim, it's his doing that we have Al Jerreza America
7%
2 votes
No i will not watch it
3%
1 vote
I support boycotting Al Jerreza America
3%
1 vote
Comments
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedI'll watch to see if it is biased in anyway or they actually are different from CNN, Fox, etc
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedMikeydaGawd wrote: »I'll watch to see if it is biased in anyway or they actually are different from CNN, Fox, etc
I will watch it also for the international news that is swept under the rug from the major news network in American and i want to see how they cover News in Africa and the middle east, i heard they do a great job in covering international news......i know they have a rep of being unbiased in the way they cover the news..
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedAl Jazeera is better than ? CNN. Of course I'll be watching. I have their website as my home page. The ignorance is still strong, I see.
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedI will be watching Al Jazeera America...but I guarantee politics will get them off the air not too long after launch.
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedAl Jerreza is actually a very well run and reputable news agency, now I can't say the same about Faux..
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedi watch their ? on youtube they are pretty good
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedgore only owned 20% of that network....just putting that out there
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedHell ? yeah I'll be watching
-
No i will not watch it...because i don't watch any cable news. not CNN, not MSNBC, not Fox, none of it. i do read Al Jazeera's website, though, if that fills anyone with joy.
also, "Jerreza?" -
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiased...because i don't watch any cable news. not CNN, not MSNBC, not Fox, none of it. i do read Al Jazeera's website, though, if that fills anyone with joy.
also, "Jerreza?"
thanks for the catch, that damn automatic spelling -
they been broadcasting al jazeera English out here in the DC area for awhile same with RT america(very liberal)....its decent straight forward news but nothing to crazy about...
-
President Barack Hussein Obama is a Secret Muslim, it's his doing that we have Al Jerreza AmericaI already watch it. Channel 457.
They had a documentary about music being used for torture last night.
Particularly the "Muppet's" theme song; which I found to be hilarious because that song is terrible. -
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedI need more outlets. I basically only watch the Daily Show and Colbert Report.
-
It still amazes me that Al Jazeera use to be known only to the US as "that channel where they showed that ? getting his head cut off" now they on the rise to be a dominating news media outlet. lol
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedIt's good to see each of the polar opposites in journalism. In peace or war it's good to see what propaganda and "news" the other side has to offer.
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedAlright Al Jazeera have launched and i have to say the first day, they kicked ass with hard hitting reporting and stories we had stories on Ca Prison Hunger strike, Louisiana and it's high prison rate in america and the inhumane living conditions, walmart slave like labor camps in India, Mexicans and the farm labor dispute in the North West, in depth look into egypt and hati and UN spreading Cholera in the waters.
Tonight they go in depth about the gangs in Chicago, already it's my go to news network -
ALLAHU AKBARPraise be to Allan.
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedIt is ironic that Al Jazeera is one of the most credible news sites in existence with the Daily Show trailing far behind.
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedWill Folly Bah Thibault be transitioning to Al-Jazeera Merica?
-
YES i will watch Al Jerreza America to get International News and World Events that America news fail to cover and unbiasedI already read and watch Al Jazeera online
World news on US tv stations is nothing but national news
