Al Jazeera Media Network#Other channels
{{short description|Qatari news media organization}}
{{redirect|Al Jazeera}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Al Jazeera Media Network
| logo = Al Jazeera Media Network Logo.svg
| native_name = بك الجزيرةلإعلامية
| native_name_lang = ar
| type = Private foundation for public benefit
| industry = Mass media
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996|11|1|df=yes}}
| founder = Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
| hq_location = Qatar Radio and Television Corporation Complex
| key_people = {{Plainlist|
- Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani (chairman)
- Mostefa Souag (director general)
}}
| products = News broadcasting, web portal
| hq_location_city = Wadi Al Sail, Doha
| hq_location_country = Qatar
| area_served = Worldwide
| subsid = {{ubli|Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera Mubasher|Al Jazeera Balkans|Al Jazeera Türk|Al Jazeera Documentary|AJ+|Al Jazeera Podcasts|Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival}}
| num_employees = 3,000
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes = {{refn|As an independent public corporation.[https://almeezan.qa/LawPage.aspx?id=2536&language=en Law No. 1 of 1996 on the Establishment of the Al Jazeera Satellite Network] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121071535/https://www.almeezan.qa/LawPage.aspx?id=2536&language=en |date=2021-01-21 }} (repealed 2011)}}{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/al-jazeera-turning-into-private-media-organisation-1.837871 |title=Al Jazeera turning into private media organisation |date=13 July 2011 |author=Habib Toumi |newspaper=Gulf News |access-date=8 January 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224221310/https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/qatar/al-jazeera-turning-into-private-media-organisation-1.837871 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|last=Bridges|first=Scott|url=https://insidestory.org.au/how-al-jazeera-took-on-the-english-speaking-world|title=How Al Jazeera took on the (English-speaking) world|date=2012-10-19|access-date=2021-01-13|archive-date=2021-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124172453/https://insidestory.org.au/how-al-jazeera-took-on-the-english-speaking-world/|url-status=live}}{{Cite press release|title=Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani|access-date=2021-01-13|url=https://network.aljazeera.net/about-us/management-profiles/sheikh-hamad-bin-thamer-al-thani|archive-date=2021-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227145209/https://network.aljazeera.net/about-us/management-profiles/sheikh-hamad-bin-thamer-al-thani|url-status=live}}{{Cite press release|title=Dr. Mostefa Souag|url=https://network.aljazeera.net/about-us/management-profiles/mostefa-souag|access-date=2021-01-13|archive-date=2021-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208090655/https://network.aljazeera.net/about-us/management-profiles/mostefa-souag|url-status=dead}}
}}
Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN; {{langx|ar|الجزيرة|Al-Jazīrah}} {{IPA|ar|æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ|}}, {{lit|The Island' {{small|or}} 'The Peninsula}}) is a private-media conglomerate headquartered in Wadi Al Sail, Doha, funded in part by the government of Qatar. The network's flagship channels include Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, which provide coverage of regional and international news, along with analysis, documentaries, and talk shows. In addition to its television channels, Al Jazeera has expanded its digital presence with platforms such as AJ+, catering to younger audiences with formats and content tailored for online consumption. Al Jazeera broadcasts in over 150 countries and territories, and has a large global audience of over 430 million people.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026065013/https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us |archive-date=26 October 2023 |access-date=27 Oct 2023}}
Originally conceived as a satellite TV channel delivering Arabic news and current affairs, it has since evolved into a multifaceted media network encompassing various platforms such as online, specialized television channels in numerous languages, and more. The network's news operation currently has 70 bureaus around the world that are shared between the network's channels and operations, making it one of the largest collections of bureaus among media companies globally.{{cite news |author=Al Jazeera Media Network |date=29 August 2019 |title=About Us |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/aboutus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112224227/http://www.aljazeera.com/aboutus/ |archive-date=12 November 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017 |work=Al Jazeera English}}
AJMN receives public funding from the Qatar government. While critics often view Al Jazeera Arabic as being influenced by Qatar’s foreign policy, Al Jazeera English is seen as editorially independent.{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Watch: US Presses for Censorship of Jazeera TV |url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/campaigns/september11/aljazeera.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815043330/https://www.hrw.org/legacy/campaigns/september11/aljazeera.htm |archive-date=15 August 2023 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=www.hrw.org}} The network has often been targeted by foreign governments upset with its reporting.{{Cite web |title=Al Jazeera: The Most-Feared News Network |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/al-jazeera-the-most-feared-news-network/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119173134/https://www.brookings.edu/articles/al-jazeera-the-most-feared-news-network/ |archive-date=19 January 2024 |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Brookings |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Tondo |first=Lorenzo |date=2024-04-01 |title=Al Jazeera faces 'security threat' ban as Israel passes new law |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/01/al-jazeera-faces-security-threat-ban-after-israel-passes-new-law-benjamin-netanyahu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406082215/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/01/al-jazeera-faces-security-threat-ban-after-israel-passes-new-law-benjamin-netanyahu |archive-date=6 April 2024 |access-date=2024-04-05 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-07 |title=RSF denounces Malaysia's harassment of Al Jazeera journalists {{!}} RSF |url=https://rsf.org/en/rsf-denounces-malaysia-s-harassment-al-jazeera-journalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002120018/https://rsf.org/en/rsf-denounces-malaysia-s-harassment-al-jazeera-journalists |archive-date=2 October 2023 |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=rsf.org |language=en}} During the Qatar diplomatic crisis, several Arab countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade. One of their demands was the closure of Al Jazeera.{{Cite news |date=2017-06-23 |title=Arab states issue ultimatum to Qatar: close Jazeera, curb ties with Iran |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-demands-idUSKBN19E0BB |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623043201/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-demands-idUSKBN19E0BB |archive-date=2017-06-23 |access-date=2023-11-12 |work=Reuters |language=en}} Other media networks have spoken out against this demand.{{Cite news |title=Norway press groups protest Al Jazeera closure call |url=https://www.norwaynews.com/norway-press-groups-protest-al-jazeera-closure-call/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416204951/http://www.norwaynews.com/norway-press-groups-protest-al-jazeera-closure-call/ |archive-date=2021-04-16 |access-date=2023-11-12}}
History
=Launch=
The original Al Jazeera Satellite Channel (then called JSC or Jazeera Satellite Channel) was launched on 1 November 1996.{{Cite news|url=https://network.aljazeera.net/about-us/timeline|title=Our Story {{!}} Al Jazeera Media Network|work=Al Jazeera Media Network|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en|archive-date=2018-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124224652/https://network.aljazeera.net/about-us/timeline|url-status=live}} This was following the closure of the first BBC Arabic language television station, then a joint venture with Orbit Communications Company, owned by Saudi King Fahd's cousin, Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud. The BBC channel had closed after a year and a half when the Saudi government attempted to thwart a documentary pertaining to executions under sharia law.{{cite web|url=http://allied-media.com/aljazeera/jazeera_history.html|title=AL JAZEERA TV: The History of the Controversial Middle East News Station Arabic News Satellite Channel History of the Controversial Station|publisher=Allied-media|access-date=12 April 2012|archive-date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416064528/http://www.allied-media.com/aljazeera/jazeera_history.html|url-status=dead}}
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, provided a loan of QAR 500 million ($137 million) to sustain Al Jazeera through its first five years, as Hugh Miles detailed in his book Al Jazeera: The Inside Story of the Arab News Channel That Is Challenging the West.
Al Jazeera's first day on air was 1 November 1996. It offered 6-hours of programming per day which would increase to 12 hours by the end of 1997. It was broadcast to the immediate neighborhood as a terrestrial signal, and on cable, as well as through satellites (which was also free to users in the Arab world). 1 January 1999 was Al Jazeera's first day of 24-hour broadcasting.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/11/2008410115625813175.html|title=A decade of growth|publisher=Al Jazeera English|date=1 November 2006|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=21 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321050314/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/11/2008410115625813175.html|url-status=live}} Employment had more than tripled in one year to 500 employees, and the agency had bureaus at a dozen sites as far as EU and Russia. Its annual budget was estimated at $25 million at the time.
= Al Jazeera and the 2011 Arab Spring =
Al Jazeera covered the Arab spring more than any other news outlets and had a significant role in spreading the Arab uprising.{{Cite book |last=Lynch |first=Marc |title=The new Arab wars : uprisings and anarchy in the Middle East |date=2016-04-26 |isbn=9781610396097 |location=New York |oclc=914195546}} Al Jazeera was the leading media spreading the news about unrest in a small city in Tunisia throughout the Middle East in 2011.{{Cite journal |last1=AOURAGH |first1=MIRIYAM |last2=ALEXANDER |first2=ANNE |title=The Egyptian Experience: Sense and Nonsense of the Internet Revolution |url=https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/1191/610 |url-status=live |journal=International Journal of Communication |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719230422/https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/1191/610 |archive-date=2019-07-19 |access-date=2019-05-21}}
People in the Middle East have heavily relied on Al Jazeera to obtain news about their regions and the world even more than YouTube and Google. Hillary Clinton, who at the time of the Arab Spring was the U.S. Secretary of State stated that Al Jazeera "has been the leader in that [it is] literally changing people’s minds and attitudes. And like it or hate it, it is really effective."
The news of unrest in the Arab states was broadcast by Al Jazeera in Arabic for the Arab world as well as in English for the audiences from the rest of the world.
In Tunisia, the Ben Ali regime banned Al Jazeera from operating in the country, but with the help of Facebook users inside Tunisia, Al Jazeera was able to access reports from the events such as protests and government crackdowns that were taking place inside the country. The intensive media coverage of people's uprising against their leaders by Al Jazeera mobilized more people from other parts of the country to join the revolution.
The population in other Arab countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Syria also mobilized against their governments influenced by the Tunisian's successful revolt which was extensively covered by Al Jazeera in Arabic. The international opinion also came to support the Arab movements in the Middle East since Al Jazeera English covered and reported governmental human right abuses against political activists and even ordinary citizens in the Middle East.
=Restructuring=
Al Jazeera restructured its operations to form a network that contains all their different channels. Wadah Khanfar, then the managing director of the Arabic Channel, was appointed as the Director-General of the Al Jazeera Network. He also acted as the managing director of the Arabic channel. Khanfar resigned on 20 September 2011, proclaiming that he had achieved his original goals and that eight years was enough time for any leader of an organization, in an interview aired on Aljazeera English.
On 26 November 2009, Al Jazeera English received approval from the CRTC, which enables Al Jazeera English to broadcast via satellite in Canada.{{cite news |date=26 November 2009 |title=Al-Jazeera English gets CRTC approval |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/al-jazeera-english-gets-crtc-approval-1.813421 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203082655/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2009/11/26/al-jazeera.html |archive-date=3 December 2010 |access-date=12 April 2012 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}
In 2011, in accordance with the renaming of the corporation, Al Jazeera Media Network was legally re-designated from a "public institution to a 'private institution of public utility'"; however, it was unknown how this would affect editorial management and funding.{{cite web |author=Chris Forrester |date=15 July 2011 |title=Al Jazeera "restructures" ahead of expansion |url=http://advanced-television.info/2011/07/15/al-jazeera-restructures-ahead-of-expansion/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222014722/http://advanced-television.info/2011/07/15/al-jazeera-restructures-ahead-of-expansion/ |archive-date=22 February 2014 |publisher=Advanced Television}}{{cite web |author=Habib Toumi |date=13 July 2011 |title=Al Jazeera turning into private media organisation |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/al-jazeera-turning-into-private-media-organisation-1.837871 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224221310/https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/qatar/al-jazeera-turning-into-private-media-organisation-1.837871 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |access-date=3 January 2013 |work=Gulf News}} The network is also funded through its television contracts and revenue from its sports division.
Subsidiaries
= Al Jazeera Arabic =
{{Main|Al Jazeera Arabic}}
Al Jazeera Arabic was launched on November 1, 1996, by the government of Qatar. The channel was established after BBC Arabic Television shut down due to censorship disagreements with its Saudi partner. Many former BBC Arabic journalists joined Al Jazeera, bringing Western-style investigative journalism to the Arab world.{{cite web |title=AL JAZEERA TV: The History of the Controversial Middle East News Station Arabic News Satellite Channel History of the Controversial Station |url=http://allied-media.com/aljazeera/jazeera_history.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416064528/http://www.allied-media.com/aljazeera/jazeera_history.html |archive-date=16 April 2012 |access-date=12 April 2012 |publisher=Allied-media}}
Noted for its journalistic professionalism, especially when contrasted with other Arab news organizations,{{Cite journal |last1=Ajaoud |first1=Soukaina |last2=Elmasry |first2=Mohamad Hamas |date=August 2020 |title=When news is the crisis: Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya framing of the 2017 Gulf conflict |journal=Global Media and Communication |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=227–242 |doi=10.1177/1742766520921880 |issn=1742-7665 |doi-access=free}} Al Jazeera gained popularity in the Arab world as an alternative to the previous landscape of largely local state-owned broadcasters,{{Cite journal |last=Kessler |first=Oren |date=2012-01-01 |title=The Two Faces of Al Jazeera |url=https://www.meforum.org/3147/al-jazeera |url-status=live |journal=Middle East Quarterly |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831180650/https://www.meforum.org/3147/al-jazeera |archive-date=31 August 2019 |access-date=30 October 2023}} with its early coverage being openly critical of autocratic leaders in the region, as well as hosting a wide range of viewpoints,{{Cite news |date=1 July 2017 |title=Why Al Jazeera is under threat |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/07/01/why-al-jazeera-is-under-threat |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304123613/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2017/07/01/why-al-jazeera-is-under-threat |archive-date=4 March 2022 |access-date=2023-10-30 |newspaper=The Economist}} gaining credibility through its extensive frontline coverage of the Second Intifada and the Iraq War.{{Cite journal |last=El-Ibiary |first=Rasha |date=December 2011 |title=Questioning the Al-Jazeera Effect: Analysis of Al-Qaeda's media strategy and its relationship with Al-Jazeera |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1742766511427479 |url-status=live |journal=Global Media and Communication |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=199–204 |doi=10.1177/1742766511427479 |issn=1742-7665 |s2cid=143494925 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030063551/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1742766511427479 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |access-date=30 October 2023|url-access=subscription }} Al Jazeera Arabic is editorially independent from Al Jazeera English.{{Cite web |date=2011-02-11 |title=Q&A With Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera English's Correspondent in Cairo - Slideshow - Daily Intel |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2011/02/qa_with_al_jazeera_englishs_ay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030050730/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2011/02/qa_with_al_jazeera_englishs_ay.html |archive-date=30 Oct 2023 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Intelligencer |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2019-05-20 |title=Al Jazeera suspends journalists for Holocaust denial video |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48335169 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029171426/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48335169 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |access-date=2023-10-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
=Al Jazeera English=
{{main|Al Jazeera English}}
Al Jazeera English (AJE) was launched on November 15, 2006, as the English-language counterpart to Al Jazeera Arabic. It positions itself as an alternative media platform to the dominance of Western media outlets like CNN and BBC, focusing on narrative reporting where subjects present their own stories.{{Cite journal |last=Bailliet |first=Cecilia M |date=2013 |title=Reinterpreting Human Rights through Global Media: A Case Study of Al Jazeera English |url=https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2013CanLIIDocs23#!fragment/zoupio-_Toc3Page5/BQCwhgziBcwMYgK4DsDWszIQewE4BUBTADwBdoAvbRABwEtsBaAfX2zgGYAFMAc0ICsASgA0ybKUIQAiokK4AntADkykREJhcCWfKWr1m7SADKeUgCElAJQCiAGVsA1AIIA5AMK2RpMACNoUnYhISA |journal=CanLII}} Al Jazeera is known for its in-depth and frontline reporting particularly in conflict zones{{Cite news |title=Al-Jazeera English wins RTS news channel of the year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/feb/23/al-jazeera-english-rts-news-channel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404092811/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/feb/23/al-jazeera-english-rts-news-channel |archive-date=4 Apr 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Ruddick |first1=Graham |date=24 June 2017 |title=Al-Jazeera: the Qatar broadcaster at centre of diplomatic crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/24/al-jazeera-the-qatar-broadcaster-at-centre-of-diplomatic-crisis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708214848/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/24/al-jazeera-the-qatar-broadcaster-at-centre-of-diplomatic-crisis |archive-date=8 Jul 2023 |access-date=28 Oct 2023 |website=TheGuardian.com}} such as the Arab Spring, the Gaza–Israel conflict and others.{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Noam |date=January 2009 |title=Al Jazeera provides an inside look at Gaza conflict |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/technology/11iht-jazeera.4.19256575.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025133424/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/technology/11iht-jazeera.4.19256575.html |archive-date=25 Oct 2023 |access-date=28 Oct 2023 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite web |date=21 December 2011 |title=Al-Jazeera English, N.Y. Times Take Home duPont Awards |url=https://www.thewrap.com/al-jazeera-english-ny-times-take-home-dupont-awards-33845/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029074517/https://www.thewrap.com/al-jazeera-english-ny-times-take-home-dupont-awards-33845/ |archive-date=29 Oct 2023 |access-date=28 Oct 2023}}{{Cite news |date=2011-12-21 |title=Al-Jazeera English, N.Y. Times Take Home duPont Awards |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS87144395420111221 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109065912/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS87144395420111221 |archive-date=9 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-09 |work=Reuters |language=en}} Al Jazeera's coverage of the Arab Spring won the network numerous awards, including the Peabody Award.{{Cite news |title=Arab Spring coverage earns Al Jazeera English top award |url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/arab-spring-coverages-earns-al-jazeera-english-top-award/s2/a547995/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901225034/https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/arab-spring-coverages-earns-al-jazeera-english-top-award/s2/a547995/ |archive-date=1 Sep 2012}}
In 2001, Al Jazeera stood as the sole international news network broadcasting from Kabul, Afghanistan. Following the events of 9/11, there was a notable surge in demand for an English-language version of Al Jazeera. Consequently, the network began considering the establishment of an English-language service.
In late 2002, the director of marketing of Al Jazeera, Ali Mohamed Kama began to push a "repositioning" of Al Jazeera, "accompanied by the introduction of English subtitles and dubbing of broadcast into English."{{Cite book|last=Seib|first=P|title=Al Jazeera English: Global News in a Changing World|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|year=2012|isbn=978-0-230-34020-6}}File:Al Jazeera English Newsdesk.jpg newsroom]]
In 2003, Al Jazeera hired its first English-language journalists, among whom was Afshin Rattansi,{{cite web|url=http://www.afshinrattansi.com/|title=Afshinrattansi.com|publisher=Afshinrattansi|access-date=12 April 2012|archive-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327150545/http://www.afshinrattansi.com/|url-status=live}} from the BBC's Today Programme.
In March 2003, it launched an English-language website{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707133146/http://aljazeera.com/ |url-status=dead |title=Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera|archive-date=July 7, 2013|website=www.aljazeera.com}} (see below). The name of the website was "Al Jazeera Net"; it was launched by younger journalists. The site published various stories covered by the network, but it did not depend on Arabic-language channels and websites. The website aimed to connect to the Western audience, cooperate with BBC, and be "a global citizen's home page."
However, twelve hours after the launch of the website, "Al Jazeera Net" was kept offline due to many denial of service attacks. Over twenty-four hours later, "Al Jazeera Net" came back online however, Freedom Cyber Force Militia hacked the website to redirect web browsers to a picture of the American flag with a slogan saying "Let Freedom Ring". "Al Jazeera Net" was then unable to be securely hosted because three of Al Jazeera's web providers, Horizons Media, Information Services, and Akamai Technologies canceled the contract. Also in March, Yahoo and AOL stopped advertising contracts with Al Jazeera. Therefore, the English-translated website was put off later in 2003.{{Cite book|last=Seib|first=P|title=Al Jazeera English: Global News in a Changing World|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|year=2012|isbn=978-0-230-34020-6|pages=13}}
On 4 July 2005 Al Jazeera officially announced plans to launch a new English-language satellite service to be called Al Jazeera International.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/07/04/aljazeera.spread.ap/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050710010536/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/07/04/aljazeera.spread.ap/index.html|archive-date=10 July 2005|title=Al Jazeera turns its signal West|work=CNN|date=10 July 2005|access-date=12 April 2012}} The new channel started at 12h GMT on 15 November 2006 under the name Al Jazeera English and launched with broadcast centers in Doha (next to the original Al Jazeera headquarters and broadcast center), London, Kuala Lumpur and Washington D.C. Initially, 12 hours of news a day were broadcast from Doha, and the rest of the day's output was split equally between London, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington D.C. Among its staff were journalists hired from ABC's Nightline and other top news outfits. Josh Rushing,{{cite web|author=Matthew Power|url=http://matthewpower.net/Matthew_Power/GQRushing.html|title=Josh Rushing: From USMC to Al Jazeera|publisher=Matthew Power: GQ|date=June 2006|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921042700/http://matthewpower.net/Matthew_Power/GQRushing.html|archive-date=2012-09-21|url-status=dead}} a former media handler for CENTCOM during the Iraq war, agreed to provide commentary; David Frost was also on board.{{cite news|author=Deborah Soloman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/magazine/12wwln_q4.html?_r=0|title=Bye-Bye, BBC|newspaper=The New York Times|date=12 February 2006|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=27 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027064027/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/magazine/12wwln_q4.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4318284.stm|title=David Frost joins al-Jazeera TV|work=BBC News|date=7 October 2005|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=27 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127190732/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4318284.stm|url-status=live}}
The new English language venture faced considerable regulatory and commercial hurdles in the North America market for its perceived sympathy with extremist causes.{{cite web|author=Jamal Dajani |url=http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=f3d3ade3488a2bca1e957e754c4ebd08 |title=Al Jazeera English Falls Short of Expectations |publisher=New America Media |date=21 November 2006 |access-date=18 November 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605161737/http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=f3d3ade3488a2bca1e957e754c4ebd08 |archive-date=5 June 2013 }}{{cite news|author=Tony Burman|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/about/burman/letters/2006/11/aljazeera_should_be_available.html|title=Al-Jazeera should be available in Canada|newspaper=CBC|date=17 November 2006|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=30 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430025039/http://www.cbc.ca/news/about/burman/letters/2006/11/aljazeera_should_be_available.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6105952.stm|title=Al-Jazeera English TV date set|newspaper=BBC News|date=1 November 2006|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=27 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127190717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6105952.stm|url-status=live}} The channel eventually secured carriage on a small number of cable systems in the United States, including one in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalstudiome.com/news/article-1463-al-jazeera-english-secures-us-cable-carriage-deal|newspaper=Digital Studio Middle East|title=Al Jazeera English secures US cable carriage deal|date=25 June 2009|access-date=24 April 2024}}
=Al Jazeera Balkans=
{{Main|Al Jazeera Balkans}}
File:Wadah Khanfar.jpg, Former Director-General of Al Jazeera Media Network]]
In 2011 Al Jazeera Media Network created Al Jazeera Balkans, a version of Al Jazeera in the Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language(s) stationed in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina catering to and broadcasting around the Balkans.
=Al Jazeera Turk=
In February 2011, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund of Turkey put Cine5 up for sale{{cite news |date=18 January 2011 |title=Turkey's Deposit Insurance Fund to sell three media organs |publisher=World Bulletin |url=http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=68708 |access-date=24 November 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231519/http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=68708 |url-status=usurped }} after the channel was confiscated when the owner Erol Aksoy went in debt and became bankrupt.{{cite news |date=12 February 2011 |title=Al Jazeera to buy Turkey's Cine 5 TV station for $40.5 mlns |publisher=Today's Zaman |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=235392 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 November 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204185119/http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=235392 |archive-date=4 February 2013}} Al Jazeera made a bid for the network{{cite news |date=4 February 2011 |title=Al-Jazeera bids for Turkish TV station |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |url=http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206786 |access-date=24 November 2012 |archive-date=12 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212002437/http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206786 |url-status=live }} and acquired it for $40.5 million after an unsuccessful $21 million bid.{{cite news |date=10 February 2011 |title=Al Jazeera acquires Turkey's Cine 5 |publisher=Hurriyet Daily News |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=al-jazeera-acquires-turkey8217s-cine-5-2011-02-10 |access-date=24 November 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222628/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=al-jazeera-acquires-turkey8217s-cine-5-2011-02-10 |url-status=live }} Al Jazeera then renamed the channel and worked on launching a Turkish language Al Jazeera operation.{{cite news |author=Neal Ungerleider |date=9 February 2011 |title=Al Jazeera, Stymied in U.S., Launching Turkish-Only Channel |publisher=Fast Company |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1725643/al-jazeera-stymied-us-launching-turkish-only-channel |access-date=24 November 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202120/http://www.fastcompany.com/1725643/al-jazeera-stymied-us-launching-turkish-only-channel |url-status=live }}
In April 2012, there were reports of the channel being delayed over its refusal to call the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as terrorists, despite it being designated as a terrorist organization by many countries and supranational organisations including but not limited to Turkey, the United States, the EU, NATO, Israel, the United Kingdom, citing journalistic standards. The Foreign Ministry, who advocated the project, became at odds with the channel. Vural Ak, a major Turkish investor, withdrew from the partnership with Al Jazeera. Nuh Yilmaz, head of Al Jazeera's Turkish editorial team, also resigned.{{cite news |author=Cengiz Semercioglu |date=8 April 2012 |title=Diplomatic and Linguistic Roadblocks Keep Al Jazeera Turkish From Airing |publisher=Worldcrunch |url=http://www.worldcrunch.com/source-partner/culture-society/diplomatic-and-linguistic-roadblocks-keep-al-jazeera-turkish-from-airing/c3s5043/#.ULEGg4fJQbR |url-status=dead |access-date=24 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006155722/http://worldcrunch.com/source-partner/culture-society/diplomatic-and-linguistic-roadblocks-keep-al-jazeera-turkish-from-airing/c3s5043/#.ULEGg4fJQbR |archive-date=6 October 2012}}
In 2013 they announced the creation of Al Jazeera Türk, a version of Al Jazeera in the Turkish language(s), stationed in Istanbul, and catering to and broadcasting around Turkey. On January 22, 2014, Al Jazeera Türk's website was launched with news content. The move made Al Jazeera Türk the first 24-hour news operation to go digital before broadcast.Nick Vivarelli. (21 January 2014). [https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/al-jazeera-expands-global-footprint-with-turkish-digital-operation-1201065912/ Al Jazeera Expands Global Footprint With Turkish Digital Operation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808235504/http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/al-jazeera-expands-global-footprint-with-turkish-digital-operation-1201065912/ |date=2016-08-08 }} Variety. Retrieved 13 September 2014. The channel was under construction with plans to launch towards the end of 2014. Construction and indoor works were underway at the upcoming channel's building in Topkapı, İstanbul.{{Cite web |title=Al Jazeera launches new Turkish Channel: Al Jazeera Türk |url=https://pr.aljazeera.com/post/74047371010/al-jazeera-launches-new-turkish-channel-al |access-date=2020-09-26 |website=Al Jazeera PR |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182514/http://pr.aljazeera.com/post/74047371010/al-jazeera-launches-new-turkish-channel-al |url-status=live }} The website shut down in 2017 without the channel being launched.{{Cite web |last=sabah |first=daily |date=2017-05-03 |title=Al Jazeera Türk stops operating in Turkey |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/business/2017/05/03/al-jazeera-turk-stops-operating-in-turkey |access-date=2020-09-26 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en |archive-date=2017-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503161147/https://www.dailysabah.com/business/2017/05/03/al-jazeera-turk-stops-operating-in-turkey |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Al Jazeera Turk - Ortadoğu, Kafkasya, Balkanlar, Türkiye ve çevresindeki bölgeden son dakika haberleri ve analizler |url=http://www.aljazeera.com.tr/ |access-date=2020-09-26 |website=Al Jazeera Turk - Ortadoğu, Kafkasya, Balkanlar, Türkiye ve çevresindeki bölgeden son dakika haberleri ve analizler |language=tr |archive-date=2014-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027073208/http://dergi.aljazeera.com.tr/ |url-status=live }}
=Al Jazeera America=
{{Main|Al Jazeera America}}
Al Jazeera America was an American version of Al Jazeera English. The channel launched on 20 August 2013 exclusively on cable and satellite systems in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
On 2 January 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced that it purchased Current TV from its founders Al Gore, Joel Hyatt, and Ronald Burkle, in the United States and would be launching an American news channel. Originally 60% of the channel's programming would be produced in America while 40% would be from Al Jazeera English, which later changed to almost all the content being U.S. originated.
Though Current TV had large distribution throughout the United States on cable and satellite TV, it averaged only 28,000 viewers at any time.{{cite news|last=Stelter|first=Brian|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/current-tv-finds-a-good-number-within-its-tiny-ratings/|title=Current TV Finds a Good Number Within Its Tiny Ratings|newspaper=New York Times|date=13 January 2012|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=22 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122221059/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/current-tv-finds-a-good-number-within-its-tiny-ratings/|url-status=live}} The acquisition of Current TV by Al Jazeera allowed Time Warner Cable to drop the network due to its low ratings, but released a statement saying that they would consider carrying the channel after they evaluated whether it made sense for their customers.{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeerausannouncement.com/ |title=Ali Velshi Joins Al Jazeera America |work=Al Jazeera |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104032347/http://www.aljazeerausannouncement.com/ |archive-date=4 January 2013 }}{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/02/business/al-jazeera-current-tv/index.html?eref=edition|title=Al Jazeera buys Al Gore's Current TV|work=CNN|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219015607/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/02/business/al-jazeera-current-tv/index.html?eref=edition|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/01/2013132255769130.html|title=Al Jazeera buys US channel Current TV|newspaper=Al Jazeera|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=3 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103152842/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/01/2013132255769130.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20896484#TWEET494584|title=Al Jazeera targets US expansion after buying Current TV|work=BBC|date=3 January 2013|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=7 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307212506/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20896484#TWEET494584|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/time-warner-cable-al-jazeera-america_n_2404879.html|title=Time Warner Cable Will Consider Carrying Al Jazeera's U.S. Network|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=3 January 2013|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=24 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124082836/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/time-warner-cable-al-jazeera-america_n_2404879.html|url-status=live}} The channel was later added to Time Warner and Bright House Networks lineups after a new carriage deal was agreed upon.
On January 13, 2016, Al Jazeera America CEO Al Anstey announced that the network would cease operations on April 12, 2016, citing the "economic landscape".{{Cite web|title = Al Jazeera America to Shut Down|url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/al-jazeera-america-shut-down-855477|website = The Hollywood Reporter|date = 13 January 2016|access-date = 2016-01-13|archive-date = 2019-02-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190228191853/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/al-jazeera-america-shut-down-855477|url-status = live}} The Al Jazeera English news channel became available digitally in the US in September, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=2016-09-21 |title=Al Jazeera in English Returns to U.S. With Digital News Channel |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/global/al-jazeera-is-back-in-the-u-s-with-english-language-streaming-news-service-1201866668/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
=AJ+=
{{main|AJ+}}
Al Jazeera Media Network also has a digital online-only news channel AJ+. The channel is an online and mobile-only news channel primarily found on various social media networks and YouTube and operated by Al Jazeera New Media out of Washington, D.C. (previously San Francisco, California). The channel consists of mostly On Demand content. It soft-launched on 13 June 2014 with a new webpage, Facebook page and videos on YouTube. The full channel launched with an app on 15 September 2014.{{Cite web |last=Edge |first=Abigail |date=September 15, 2014 |title=How Al Jazeera's AJ+ aims to engage millennials |url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/how-al-jazeera-s-aj-aims-to-engage-millennials-/s2/a562464/ |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=journalism.co.uk}} There are also Arabic and Spanish language versions of the channel.
= Al Jazeera Sport =
{{Main|Al Jazeera Sport}}
In 2004 Al Jazeera expanded into the world of sports with the establishment of Al Jazeera Sport (now known as beIN Sports) and the building of 8 Arabic language specialty sports channels.
On 1 January 2014, Al Jazeera Sport was renamed to beIN Sports after it along with all of the organisation's non-news and current affairs assets were spun off and privatised into beIN Media Group; the channels were legally spun off to have consistency with all the Network's sports properties{{Clarify|reason=What does this even mean? The network was an offshoot! It didn't even "pre-exist".|date=January 2021}}. According to Kate O'Brian, President of Al Jazeera America, Al Jazeera Sport revenue helped fund the network when it was in operation similar to how BBC Worldwide helps fund the BBC.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
=JeemTV and Baraem=
{{Main|JeemTV|Baraem}}
On September 9, 2005, Al Jazeera established a children's division with the launch of Al Jazeera Children's Channel (since 2013 it was known as JeemTV). The channel targets an audience of 7 to 15-year-olds and broadcasts 24 hours a day.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
On January 16, 2009, Baraem launched, the channel targets an audience of three to seven-year-olds and broadcasts 17 hours a day (6 am to 11 pm Doha time).{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
On April 1, 2016, both JeemTV and Baraem were acquired by beIN Media Group and were made part of beIN Channels Network. Since then, as a result, the channels were no longer free to view and made exclusive to beIN Channels Network.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}File:Al Jazeera Office, Kuala Lumpur.jpg
=Online=
The network operates Aljazeera.com which is the main website for the Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Balkans and the former Al Jazeera America web sites. For its Arabic language properties, it has Aljazeera.net. and for its Turkish properties Aljazeera.tr.
On January 1, 2018, Al Jazeera launched a Mandarin-language news website becoming the first Middle Eastern news provider to target the Chinese audience. The staff of the project is in contact with their audience via Chinese social media like Weibo, Meipai and WeChat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/al-jazeera-launches-mandarin-language-website-180101085619213.html|title=Al Jazeera launches Mandarin-language website|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2018-01-02|archive-date=2018-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101224858/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/al-jazeera-launches-mandarin-language-website-180101085619213.html|url-status=live}}
==Al Jazeera Podcasts==
In 2017, the network launched a podcasting network called Jetty. Later renamed Al Jazeera Podcasts, the network is available via the network's website as well as SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. The network is based out of San Francisco alongside AJ+ and is available in English.{{Cite news|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/11/with-its-new-podcast-network-jetty-al-jazeera-will-use-facebook-watch-to-rope-in-new-listeners/|title=With its new podcast network Jetty, Al Jazeera will use Facebook Watch to rope in new listeners|work=Nieman Lab|access-date=2017-12-05|archive-date=2017-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005757/http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/11/with-its-new-podcast-network-jetty-al-jazeera-will-use-facebook-watch-to-rope-in-new-listeners/|url-status=live}} Jetty debuted with the podcast Closer Than They Appear, a hybrid interview/narrative show hosted by writer Carvell Wallace. Other podcasts that debuted in 2018 included The Game of Our Lives which uses soccer to explain global economics and cultures, a podcast on freedom dubbed (Freedom Stories, featuring Melissa Harris-Perry), sex (The Virgie Show) with Virgie Tovar, and global music (Movement) with Meklit Hadero.{{Cite news |title=With its new podcast network Jetty, Al Jazeera will use Facebook Watch to rope in new listeners |work=Nieman Lab |url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/11/with-its-new-podcast-network-jetty-al-jazeera-will-use-facebook-watch-to-rope-in-new-listeners/ |access-date=2017-12-05 |archive-date=2017-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005757/http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/11/with-its-new-podcast-network-jetty-al-jazeera-will-use-facebook-watch-to-rope-in-new-listeners/ |url-status=live }}
==Rightly==
In 2021, the network launched Rightly, an online news channel aimed at center-right American conservatives. The channel much like AJ+ is only available online, primarily on YouTube. The launch of the channel spurred questions from Al Jazeera staff questioning if the channel took away from Al Jazeera's mission to be non-partisan and from various media critics wondering if conservative audiences would watch a channel from Al Jazeera, a long time target of American conservatives.{{Cite news|title=Al Jazeera Is Launching A Right-Leaning News Outlet Called Rightly|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/23/970664967/al-jazeera-is-launching-a-right-leaning-news-outlet-called-rightly|access-date=2021-03-01|website=NPR.org|date=23 February 2021|language=en|last1=Chappell|first1=Bill|archive-date=2021-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228140326/https://www.npr.org/2021/02/23/970664967/al-jazeera-is-launching-a-right-leaning-news-outlet-called-rightly|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2021-02-25|title=Al Jazeera staff say rightwing platform will 'irreparably tarnish' brand|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/feb/25/al-jazeera-staff-say-rightwing-platform-will-irreparably-tarnish-brand|access-date=2021-03-01|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314141451/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/feb/25/al-jazeera-staff-say-rightwing-platform-will-irreparably-tarnish-brand|url-status=live}}
= Al Jazeera Center for Studies =
Al Jazeera Media Network owns and operates the Al Jazeera Center for Studies [http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/ Al Jazeera Center for Studies]. Established in 2006, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies conducts in-depth analysis of current affairs at both regional and global levels. Its research agenda focuses primarily on geopolitics and strategic developments in the Arab world and surrounding regions.{{cite web|url=http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/about/aboutstudies/|title=Al jazeera Center for Studies - About Us|work=aljazeera.net|access-date=2013-07-07|archive-date=2013-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731014019/http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/about/aboutstudies/|url-status=live}} The center with an extensive network of distinguished researchers, and a wide range array of experts from across the globe, the center aims to promote dialogue and build bridges of mutual understanding and cooperation between cultures, civilizations, and religions. The center also contains the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
= Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival =
The Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival is an annual film festival held at the Doha Sheraton in Doha, Qatar. The first festival was held on 18 April 2005. Every year the festival has a different theme.[http://festival.aljazeera.net/Services/System/?Rq=6%29O7AwwtJ-5HrW=Uot%29-7GCWH%29w71-E0a Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804094846/http://festival.aljazeera.net/Services/System/?Rq=6)O7AwwtJ-5HrW=Uot)-7GCWH)w71-E0a |date=2013-08-04 }} Al Jazeera.
The Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival was started in 2018 as an annual international documentary film festival based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/magazin/film-tv/al-jazeera-balkans-organizuje-prvi-documentary-film-festival-i-poziva-autore-i-producente/180213038|title=Al Jazeera Balkans organizuje prvi Documentary Film Festival i poziva autore i producente|publisher=klix.ba|access-date=2019-12-23|archive-date=2019-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223233719/https://www.klix.ba/magazin/film-tv/al-jazeera-balkans-organizuje-prvi-documentary-film-festival-i-poziva-autore-i-producente/180213038|url-status=live}}
=Other channels=
Al Jazeera Media Network also operates Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, an Arabic language documentary channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher, a live politics and public interest channel, which broadcasts conferences in real time without editing or commentary. Al Jazeera Mubasher is first channel of its kind in the Middle East.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
= Partnerships =
In 2017, Al Jazeera signed a strategic partnership agreement with Google.{{Cite web |date=21 Apr 2017 |title=Al Jazeera announces strategic partnership with Google |url=http://network.aljazeera.net/en/pressroom/al-jazeera-announces-strategic-partnership-google |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Al Jazeera Media Network |language=en}} In 2019, Al Jazeera signed a partnership agreement with the China Intercontinental Communication Center over Al Jazeera's documentary channel with the aim of expanding its documentary content through co-production and exchange of media.{{Cite web |date=27 January 2019 |title=Al Jazeera signs a partnership with China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC) |url=http://network.aljazeera.net/en/pressroom/al-jazeera-signs-partnership-china-intercontinental-communication-center-cicc |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Al Jazeera Media Network |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bandurski |first=David |date=2023-02-17 |title=Co-Producing with the CCP |url=https://chinamediaproject.org/2023/02/17/co-producing-with-the-ccp/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=China Media Project |language=en-US}} The same year, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg signed a content license agreement.{{Cite news |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Al Jazeera partners with Bloomberg to expand business coverage |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1Q00L9/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |work=Reuters}} In 2021, Al Jazeera partnered with Arewa 24 to provide its content in Hausa.{{Cite web |date=23 November 2021 |title=Al Jazeera And AREWA24 Partner To Dub Documentaries And Series Into Hausa For 40+ Million Viewers In Northern Nigeria And The Sahel |url=https://arewa24.com/en/al-jazeera-and-arewa24-partner-to-dub-documentaries-and-series-into-hausa-for-40-million-viewers-in-northern-nigeria-and-the-sahel/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Arewa 24}} In 2023, Al Jazeera partnered with Avid Technology.{{Cite web |last=Priestley |first=Jenny |date=2023-08-24 |title=Al Jazeera partners with Avid on global remote production |url=https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/al-jazeera-partners-with-avid-on-global-remote-production |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=TVBEurope |language=en-GB}}
Al Jazeera effect
{{See also|Al Jazeera effect}}
The “Al Jazeera effect” describes the impact of Al Jazeera Media Network on global politics. It reduces the monopoly governments and mainstream media have on information, empowering groups that previously lacked a global voice.{{Cite web |last=Miles |first=Hugh |date=9 February 2011 |title=The Al Jazeera Effect |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/02/09/the-al-jazeera-effect-2/ |access-date=25 January 2025 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}
Al Jazeera aimed to counter government censorship and the dominant Western viewpoint of Arabs.{{Cite thesis |last=Zingarelli |first=M |title=The CNN effect and the Al-Jazeera effect in global politics and society |date=2010 |publisher=Georgetown University |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10822/553423 |hdl=10822/553423}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS). Masters Thesis.|date=March 2025}} The term, coined by Philip Seib and possibly used earlier by Simon Henderson, initially referred to Arab governments losing control of information due to Al Jazeera’s popularity. Seib later generalized it to other Internet-powered new media.{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2013 |title=Al Jazeera Effect |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics |publisher=CQ Press/Sage Reference |location=Los Angeles |url=https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/encyclopedia-of-social-media-and-politics/chpt/al-jazeera-effect |last=Youmans |first=William Lafi |editor1-last=Kerric |editor1-first=Harvey |pages=41–43 |isbn=9781483389004}} Search for "Al Jazeera effect".
Al Jazeera challenges authoritarian governments by stimulating discussion and providing multiple perspectives, acting as the “voice of the voiceless.”{{Cite journal |last=Stroud |first=Shawn |date=2014 |title=The Rise of Al Jazeera |url=https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/military-review/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20140831_art001.pdf |journal=Military Review |volume=94 |issue=4 |pages=63–70 |via=EBSCO host}} It shifted the flow of information from the “West to the rest,” reporting on underrepresented countries and offering a platform for Arab citizens’ expression.{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS). Masters Thesis.|date=March 2025}} Critics acknowledge its role in reforms during the 2005 Arab Spring.{{Cite journal |last=Lynch |first=Marc |date=2005 |title=Watching al-Jazeera |url=http://pscourses.ucsd.edu/ps200b/Lynch%20Watching%20al-Jazeera.pdf |journal=The Wilson Quarterly |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=36–45}} It has been compared to the CNN effect. Seib concludes that the new media, while not beyond being abused, are largely contributing to democratization and political reform worldwide.
Editorial independence
AJMN receives public funding from the Qatari government and is chartered as a "private foundation for public benefit" under Qatari law.{{cite web |date=19 June 2019 |title=Al Jazeera pushes back on GOP effort to force it to register as a foreign agent |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/al-jazeera-pushes-back-on-gop-effort-to-force-it-to-register-as-a-foreign-agent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829155606/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/al-jazeera-pushes-back-on-gop-effort-to-force-it-to-register-as-a-foreign-agent |archive-date=29 Aug 2023 |access-date=29 Oct 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Watch: US Presses for Censorship of Jazeera TV |url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/campaigns/september11/aljazeera.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815043330/https://www.hrw.org/legacy/campaigns/september11/aljazeera.htm |archive-date=15 Aug 2023 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=www.hrw.org}} Some scholars and media outlets argued that the government of Qatar has a degree of editorial influence over its content,{{cite book |title=Al Jazeera and the Global Media Landscape: The South is Talking Back |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415814430 |pages=27–48}}{{Cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=2012-09-30 |title=Al-Jazeera's political independence questioned amid Qatar intervention |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/30/al-jazeera-independence-questioned-qatar |access-date=2024-06-28 |work=The Guardian}} particularly over its Arabic language reporting.{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2024 |title=Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) – State Media Monitor |url=https://statemediamonitor.com/2024/07/al-jazeera-media-network-ajmn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302072735/https://statemediamonitor.com/2024/07/al-jazeera-media-network-ajmn/ |archive-date=2 March 2025 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=State Media Monitor |publisher=Media and Journalism Research Center |language=en-GB}} However, AJMN maintains that "its reporting is not directed or controlled by the Qatari government nor does it reflect any government viewpoint."{{cite web |date=19 June 2019 |title=Al Jazeera pushes back on GOP effort to force it to register as a foreign agent |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/al-jazeera-pushes-back-on-gop-effort-to-force-it-to-register-as-a-foreign-agent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829155606/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/al-jazeera-pushes-back-on-gop-effort-to-force-it-to-register-as-a-foreign-agent |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 Oct 2023 |quote=Al Jazeera Media Network responded in a statement to the Washington Examiner, claiming that Al Jazeera “is not owned by Qatar” and that “its reporting is not directed or controlled by the Qatari government nor does it reflect any government viewpoint.”}} While there is evidence supporting Al Jazeera’s claims of editorial independence, the network enjoys only relative autonomy: it is not government-controlled, yet it remains government-owned.{{Cite book |last=Zayani |first=Mohamed |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Al_Jazeera_Phenomenon/jAKaDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Al Jazeera Phenomenon: Critical Perspectives on New Arab Media |date=2019-05-23 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-26399-9 |language=en}}
Critics have argued that its Arabic-language coverage in particular is influenced by Qatari foreign policy, often framing events in ways favourable to the government's aims, such as its coverage of the Iraq War and the Arab Spring.{{sfn|Abdul-Nabi|2022|pp=29–30; 44–46; 315–328}} It has been alleged that in its domestic Arabic-language coverage, criticism of the ruling Qatari regime is censored.{{sfn|Abdul-Nabi|2022|pp=28–29}} Other authors have argued that Qatar does not have a firm editorial control of Al Jazeera's Arabic coverage and that it largely operates independently, and that its coverage sometimes goes against Qatar's foreign policy.{{Cite journal |last=Maziad |first=Marwa |date=April 2021 |title=Qatar in Egypt: The politics of Al Jazeera |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1464884918812221 |journal=Journalism |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=1067–1087 |doi=10.1177/1464884918812221 |issn=1464-8849|url-access=subscription }} Most sources agree that Al Jazeera's English language reporting is more objective and independent than its Arabic-language reporting.{{sfn|Abdul-Nabi|2022|pp=315–328}} Al Jazeera English has developed its own internal editorial guidelines and is editorially independent from Al Jazeera Arabic.
Bans and restrictions
{{See also|Al Jazeera controversies and criticism}}
Several Algerian cities lost power on 27 January 1999, reportedly to keep residents from watching a program in which Algerian dissidents implicated the Algerian military in a series of massacres.[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8215363856234901024 Books of our Time: Al-Jazeera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115033945/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8215363856234901024|date=2008-01-15}} at Google Video; TV programme feat. Lawrence Velvel, Dean of the Mass. School of Law, interviewing author Hugh Miles who reveals a lot about the channel (a, c: 48:30, b: 55:00){{cite book |author=El-Nawawy and Iskandar |title=Al-Jazeera: How the free Arab News Network Scooped the World and Changed the Middle East |publisher=Westview}} cf.Further reading{{cite web |author=Nicolas Eliades |title=The Rise of Al Jazeera |url=http://www.monitor.upeace.org/pdf/Jazeera.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003081228/http://www.monitor.upeace.org/pdf/Jazeera.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2006 |work=Peace & Conflict Monitor}} On 4 July 2004, the Algerian government froze the activities of Al Jazeera's Algerian correspondent. The official reason was that a reorganization of the work of foreign correspondents was in progress. According to Reporters Without Borders, however, the measure was a reprisal for a broadcast the previous week of another Al-Itijah al-Mouakiss debate on the political situation in Algeria.[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10868 RSF strongly condemns ban on al-Jazeera] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128064744/http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10868|date=28 November 2006}}
Bahrain Information Minister Nabeel bin Yaqub Al-Hamar banned Al Jazeera correspondents from reporting from inside the country on 10 May 2002, saying that the station was biased towards Israel and against Bahrain.{{cite news |date=11 May 2002 |title=Bahrain bans Al Jazeera TV |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1980191.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402212445/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/1980191.stm |archive-date=2 April 2019 |access-date=12 April 2012 |work=BBC News}} After improvements in relations between Bahrain and Qatar in 2004, Al Jazeera correspondents returned to Bahrain. In 2010, however, the Information Ministry again banned Al Jazeera correspondents from reporting inside the country. The ministry accused the network of "flouting [Bahrain's] laws regulating the press and publishing" after Al Jazeera aired a report on poverty in Bahrain.{{cite news |date=19 May 2010 |title=Bahrain blocks Al Jazeera team |url=http://aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2010/05/2010519123656935254.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111151818/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2010/05/2010519123656935254.html |archive-date=11 January 2012 |access-date=31 December 2011 |agency=Al Jazeera}}
Al Jazeera has been banned three times by the Iraqi government, most recently in 2016 where officials accused it of "inciting violence and sectarianism."{{Cite news |date=2016-04-29 |title=Iraq Shuts Down Al-Jazeera Office, Saying It Incites Violence |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-shuts-down-al-jazeera-office-baghdad-saying-it-incites-violence-sectarianism/27705668.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-04-28 |title=Al Jazeera banned from Iraq |url=https://www.dw.com/en/al-jazeera-says-it-has-been-banned-from-iraq-over-its-reporting/a-19221499 |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en |quote=Iraqi officials have reportedly revoked the broadcaster's license, marking the third time Al Jazeera has been banned in Iraq. The news organization says it was told it had violated codes of conduct and other rules.}} Iraqi authorities had long perceived Al Jazeera's media coverage as hostile to Iraq's Shi’ite majority and too friendly toward the Islamic State.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-28 |title=Iraq Shutters Al-Jazeera Baghdad Office |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/al-jazeera-iraq/3306460.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} In 2013, the broadcaster was accused by many Iraqi government supporters of backing Arab spring protests in the country.{{Cite news |last=Associated Press in Baghdad |date=2013-04-29 |title=Iraq bans al-Jazeera and nine other TV channels over 'sectarian bias' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/28/al-jazeera-banned-iraq-sectarian |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=The Guardian}}
The UAE blocked Al Jazeera in the emirates on 5 June 2017 (after the onset of the Qatar diplomatic crisis) because the organization was a state-endowed entity of the Qatari government and they claimed that Qatar was "a major sponsor of hate speech through Al Jazeera's Arabic-language network and its other state-controlled media entities."{{cite web |date=28 June 2018 |title=Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates) |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/172/172-20190509-ORA-01-00-BI.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512022936/https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/172/172-20190509-ORA-01-00-BI.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2019 |access-date=12 May 2019 |publisher=International Court of Justice |page=11}} In the International Court of Justice case filed by Qatar against the United Arab Emirates about the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates), Qatar requested that the court order the UAE to suspend its block of Al Jazeera.{{cite web |date=11 June 2018 |title=Request for the Indication of Provisional Measures of Protection (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates) |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/172/172-20180611-WRI-01-00-EN.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828204920/https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/172/172-20180611-WRI-01-00-EN.pdf |archive-date=28 August 2019 |access-date=12 May 2019 |publisher=International Court of Justice |page=14}} The court ruled, "both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve".{{cite web |date=28 July 2018 |title=International Court of Justice Order |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/172/172-20180723-ORD-01-00-EN.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727214826/https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/172/172-20180723-ORD-01-00-EN.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2020 |access-date=17 December 2021 |publisher=International Court of Justice |page=27}}
In May 2019, Sudan closed Al Jazeera's office. Sudan summoned its envoy in Qatar for consultation the following month, saying that the envoy would soon return to Qatar. Qatar was seen as a close ally of ousted Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.{{cite news |date=1 June 2019 |title=Sudan recalls ambassador to Qatar for 'consultations' |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1505086/middle-east |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019163022/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1505086/middle-east |archive-date=19 October 2020 |access-date=2 June 2019 |newspaper=Arab News}}
Israel banned Al Jazeera in May 2024, forcing their offices in the country to close.{{Cite web |author=Al Jazeera Staff |title=Israel bans Al Jazeera: What does it mean and what happens next? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/6/israel-bans-al-jazeera-what-does-it-mean-and-what-happens-next |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} In September 2024, the IDF ordered the closure of the Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah, considering it a threat to national security.{{cite news |last1=Rasgon |first1=Adam |last2=Nierenberg |first2=Amelia |date=September 22, 2024 |title=Israel's Military Closes Al Jazeera's Office in the West Bank |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/22/world/middleeast/al-jazeera-west-bank-raid.html |accessdate=January 3, 2025 |publisher=The New York Times |language=en}} At the start of 2025, the Palestinian Authority suspended Qatar's Al Jazeera TV broadcasts from Gaza, claiming it shows "inciting material." Both the culture, interior and communications ministers of the authority were cited by WAFA that the channel broadcast material that was "deceiving and stirring strife."{{Cite web |title=Palestinian Authority suspends broadcast of Qatars Al Jazeera TV temporarily |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/middleeastnews/827828/palestinian-authority-suspends-broadcast-of-qatars-al-jazeera-tv-tempo/en |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Works cited =
- {{cite book|last=Abdul-Nabi|first=Zainab|year=2022|title=Al-Jazeera's "Double Standards" in the Arab Spring: A Peace Journalism Analysis (2011-2021)|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-3031142789|doi=10.1007/978-3-031-14279-6}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Al Jazeera}}
{{White House James S. Brady Press Briefing Room Seating Chart}}
Category:1996 establishments in Qatar
Category:Conglomerate companies of Qatar
Category:Multinational companies
Category:Mass media companies established in 1996
Category:Companies based in Doha