I think it’s safe to say that I’m among the minority of Americans who name Al Jazeera as their most frequented news source. Even when I asked six Zephyrus students, none of them could tell me what Al Jazeera was. For those of you who don’t know, Al Jazeera is a Middle Eastern based, world-renowned news publication that ranks up there with BBC and the New York Times in both credibility and reporting. Much of their reporting has been pivotal to providing “the other side” of the story in the United States’ Afghanistan and Iraqi campaigns.
Now, I still occasionally turn to CNN and FOX for the headlines, but in reality it’s a true rarity. Maybe it’s the origin of Al Jazeera’s news or the writers’ and anchors’ delivery, but I think that my love for and reliance on the Qatari publication lies within their objectivity and lack of bias.
When rumors of Al Jazeera expanding and establishing an American branch cropped up, I was extremely excited. The prospect of having my favorite news publication become more entrenched in reporting my nation’s issues in addition to that of the Middle East was something I saw as a fantastic development. Unfortunately, while the idea was a noble one, the execution was nothing to boast about.
To be completely honest, I pay attention to Middle Eastern politics more than I pay attention to those of my own stars and stripes. The tyrannical regimes of the East hold my interest far better than our own American government full of bumbling politicians who can’t even figure out how to pass a budget deal. Al Jazeera’s core focus on the Middle East made it a great hotspot for all the news that I really cared about.
The switch over to Al Jazeera America presents a dilemma for me: the homepage only has domestic American stories headlining. If you want Middle Eastern news, not only do you have to click on a separate “International” tab, you then have to search for any articles or news relating to the Middle East. I don’t consider myself to be a lazy person, and my frustration with all the navigation isn’t the time it takes, but rather the fact that Middle Eastern news is not the core focus of Al Jazeera America anymore. This western branch of the Qatari press presents two major problems to me.
The first problem is, as I mentioned previously, that the Middle East is no longer the focus of a Middle Eastern news organization. It’s impossible not to hear the irony in that statement. I feel as if this America-centered focus is just pushing Americans to be just as intolerant of the Middle East in our post-9/11 society as they were before. It implies that Al Jazeera sees Middle Eastern news as something that should not be shown in America. Is it because Al Jazeera does not believe that Americans care about Middle Eastern issues and therefore the reasoning behind the American focus is purely based on a projection of ratings and profit? This question brings me to my next point.
Al Jazeera, in my eyes, is transforming itself from a news source to a news company. News is generated no longer for the good of informing people about a given set of issues, but rather it is generated so that the company putting out the news can make a profit. Audio and video can no longer be streamed because Al Jazeera now has a news channel (one you have to pay extra for, I might add) and is looking to making money – and not to create convenience. So yes, Al Jazeera is really embracing the American spirit in this sense: make profit, not problems.
In this context, I feel as if Al Jazeera is doing a disservice to their American audience as well as to their Arab audience. As a Middle Eastern news organization making a debut in the United States, Al Jazeera has the potential to reach out and inform a really massive audience about the truth behind Middle East. I’m referring to the dispelling of the misconception that so many Americans have in which they believe that every Middle Easterner, or more specifically Muslim, is a Jihadist just waiting to set off a bomb. Instead, they have thrown this opportunity away to just deliver more news about American politics – which are already covered by countless domestic news corporations.
Some would argue that Al Jazeera is a great addition to those reporting on American news because they provide a very objective view. I cannot refute this statement – it is true. As an external publication, they have the ability to report facts and not feelings. But the point I am trying to make is that Al Jazeera has the power to do so much more. Sure, it’s simpler to make money reporting on American news, but the easy route is not the route I believe Al Jazeera should be taking.
If Al Jazeera truly wants to stand out as a news publication, they will do away with this ridiculous “Americanization” puberty phase they seem to be going through and get back to what they do best: reporting on the issues that matter within the Middle East. Americans need to be informed; not only should they be informed of what’s going on inside the U.S., but they must also heighten awareness of external headlines – especially in the Arab world. Al Jazeera has this ability to go above and beyond and make profound connections between both our hemispheres, fostering a spirit of understanding and civility.
So what’s my point? Al Jazeera America brings to light this idea that news organizations must conform to what the public wants just so they can make a profit. Telling people things they don’t want to hear won’t make you popular, and a dip in ratings is enough to keep reporters telling fluff stories, and in some cases spitting out complete lies. Reporting should be about taking risks, challenging preconceived social standards, and pushing the envelope. I would encourage Al Jazeera to reform its Western branch – they shouldn’t lose their unique identity in a sea of conforming reporters and publications.
Moreover, on the note of international publications, more Edina students should work to break out of their bubbles of narrowcasting. If we as a community want to truly embrace the spirit of academia, it is crucial to give equal attention to publications of all geographic and political persuasions.
