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Democracy Now! in Doha... How Arab TV Challenged the News:
A Look at Al Jazeera’s Origins
Democracy Now! in Doha... The Opposite Direction: Why This
Al Jazeera Talk Show Draws Fire From Arab & Western Governments
Democracy Now! in Doha... Al Jazeera Correspondent Ahmed
Mansur On the Horror of the U.S. Siege of Fallujah
Democracy Now! in Doha... How Arab TV Challenged
the News: A Look at Al Jazeera’s Origins
Over the years, the Arabic satellite television network
Al Jazeera has come under intense criticism from governments
around the Arab and Western world. Some leaders in the Gulf
have objected to Al Jazeera’s presentation of views
critical of governments in the region, and members of the
Bush administration have claimed that the network is biased
against the U.S and its policies. We talk with author Hugh
Miles about the origins of the network. [includes rush
transcript]
We are broadcasting from Doha, Qatar, where we are attending
the second Al Jazeera Forum - a three-day gathering of journalists,
scholars and media makers from the Middle East and around
the world. It is being held to discuss new political, legal
and technological challenges facing news organizations, and
to debate the responsibility of the media in an increasingly
fractured world.
The forum was organized by Al Jazeera - the Arabic satellite
television network headquartered in Doha. Al Jazeera first
began broadcasting in 1996 and has grown to be the fifth most
powerful brand in the world, according to Brandchannel.com.
Over the years, the network has come under intense criticism
from governments around the Arab and Western world, and from
across the political spectrum. Some leaders in the Gulf have
objected to Al Jazeera’s presentation of views critical
of governments in the region. And members of the Bush administration
have claimed that the network is biased against the U.S and
its policies. In fact, in August of last year, the U.S.-backed
Iraqi government banned the network from reporting in Iraq.
Al Jazeera has also been the victim of U.S military attacks.
The U.S. bombed Al Jazeera’s bureaus in Afghanistan
in November 2001 and Baghdad in April 2003. Al Jazeera correspondent
Tareq Ayoub was killed in the Baghdad incident. The U.S. claimed
both bombings were accidental.
Last November, the London tabloid The Daily Mirror cited
a secret British memo allegedly revealing that Bush told Tony
Blair in April 2004 of his desire to bomb the news outlet.
Bush administration officials dismissed the report, calling
it “outlandish.”
- Hugh Miles, author of “Al Jazeera: How Arab TV
News Challenged the News.”
Democracy Now! in Doha... The Opposite Direction:
Why This Al Jazeera Talk Show Draws Fire From Arab & Western
Governments
We speak with Dr. Faisal al-Qasim, anchor of Al-Ittijah
al-Muakis, or “The Opposite Directions.” The political
debate show is one of the most popular and controversial shows
of its kind in the history of Arabic television and has drawn
official protest and complaints from officials. Hugh Miles
joins the discussion. [includes rush
transcript]
One of the most famous programs on Al Jazeera is Al-Ittijah
al-Muakis - or "The Opposite Direction." Similar
to CNN’s Crossfire, "The Opposite Direction"
is a political debate show that features guests with opposing
opinions debating a controversial theme. A common format of
the show is to put an Arab dissident living in exile against
a representative from that country’s government - with
explosive results.
Airing every Tuesday for ninety minutes, "The Opposite
Direction" is one of the most popular shows of its kind
in the history of Arabic television - and one of the most
controversial. In fact, as Hugh Miles writes in his book on
Al Jazeera, "The show has been the source of numerous
international disputes and instigated the severance of diplomatic
relations with several neighboring countries."
The anchor of "The Opposite Direction,” Dr. Faisal
al-Qassim, has become one of the most famous faces in the
Arab world. He writes and researches every show single-handedly
and books every guest himself. He is author of the book, "Memorize
and Shut Up- the Lost Art of Arab Dialogue."
- Dr. Faisal al-Qasim, anchor of Al-Ittijah al-Muakis (The
Opposite Direction) on Al Jazeera, which is probably the
most controversial talk show in the history of Arab television.
Democracy Now! in Doha... Al Jazeera Correspondent
Ahmed Mansur On the Horror of the U.S. Siege of Fallujah
We now turn to another of Al Jazeera’s most prominent
journalists, Ahmed Mansur. He was in Fallujah in April, 2003
during one of the bloodiest assaults by U.S. forces in Iraq.
He reported from Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation
was brutally beaten while covering the elections in Egypt
a few months ago. [includes rush
transcript]
- Ahmed Mansur, Al Jazeera correspondent in Fallujah during
U.S. siege. He is author of 17 books and is the host of
a prominent talk show on Al Jazeera called "Without
Borders."
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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