Al Jazeera Enrages Dictators, Wins Viewers With Coverage

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Bloomberg News

“Don’t believe those misleading dog stations,” Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi said this week. He wasn’t referring to CNN or the BBC.

Arab-owned television channels Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya have been denounced by targets of the Middle Eastern revolts, showing they’ve played a pivotal role in the uprisings that have shaken countries from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya and Yemen. Qaddafi called them the “biggest enemy.” In Egypt, Al Jazeera’s Cairo bureau was shut down at the start of rallies that led to the ouster of 82-year-old president Hosni Mubarak.

Beaming images of the protests and interviewing key participants, Al Jazeera in particular has moved from being perceived as a Middle Eastern talk shop to a catalyst for change. Although the Arabic- and English-language broadcaster has sometimes acted like a participant rather than an observer of the uprisings, it is winning praise in Europe and the U.S., which may help it extend its global reach.

>

The channel, together with the Arabic-language only Al Arabiya, has been influential enough to cause Qaddafi, 68, to interrupt his hour-long, rambling televised speech on Feb. 22 to criticize their real-time coverage of his remarks after he was handed a note by an aide.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-25/al-jazeera-enrages-dictators-wins-global-viewers-with-coverage-of-unrest.html

[AndyTiedye]

1. And We Thought the Revolution Would Not be Televised

[truthisfreedom]

2. Lovin' it!

God, it's like the 60s and 70s all over again. Bring it on!

[dipsydoodle]

3. What fascinates me

is that it seems to be just recent events which aroused interest in Al Jazz English in the US. We've had it in the UK since inception. Its times like these that they really shine - rest of the time they can be a bit boring.

btw - never a good idea to actually admit remembering the '60s same as it's not always a good idea to sing along to '50s Rock 'n Roll tunes. :)

[Salander]

4. Tahrir Square: Woodstock with a purpose

Living in the Arabian peninsula for the past 3.5 years, It's been wonderful to be able to watch Al Jazeera English as well as Press TV-- both commercial free. I can understand the Israeli lobby wanting to keep both of these channels out of the eyes and ears of the American public. Both gave extensive coverage to the bombardment of Gaza two years ago, the attack on the Trukish flotilla a year ago. But I also see that the whole power establishment in the US would be threatened by the coverage of these two stations. As they have been catalysts for change in the Gulf region, so they could help catalyze a people's movement in the US. Yesterday Press TV's film program reviewed "Gasland," the documentary on US companies contaminating our underground water by fracking for natural gas. This was followed by a short interview with Noam Chomsky.

If Americans only had 24/7 access to this kind of programing, positive change there might come faster AND peacefully.

[fleabert]

5. while living in the middle east, i came to really respect and enjoy both AJ and AA

very good journalism for the most part, sometimes very ethnocentric, but that's true of CNN and BBC too, and to be expected. I wish I had AJ now.