Archive for September, 2012

Al Jazeera – ‘The Island’ in the Media World

Posted: September 19, 2012 in Business, Media, Newspapers
Tags: , , , , , , ,
0

In just 42 years the State of Qatar, a small (almost) island in the Persian Gulf, has become the richest Country in the World. It now boasts the best Airline in the World, Qatar Airways, with the youngest airline fleet. The first Middle Eastern Country to host the prestigious 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will feature the best Football (Soccer) nations in the World.

Qatar’s achievements do not end there, in 1996 the Emir or Ruler of the Country bankrolled the modern era’s newest and one might say only unbiased News Channel: Al Jazeera. What started as a 6-hour broadcast in Arabic has now grown into 3 sports channels, 2 English channels, a children’s channel and a documentary channel. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post Al Jazeera’s news team features some of the best talent from BBC and CNN.

Al Jazeera Arabic News Channel was the name that was making the rounds among the Media professionals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1996. I was working in Dubai and was fascinated by the potential that a well funded channel with a quality team could achieve. To, perhaps, understand the motivation behind Al Jazeera, it is important to note that the Al Thani family, ruling family of Qatar currently led by a ‘benevolent monarch’ who tends to go his own way, value their independence and being the best above all else. When the UAE, a federation of 7 emirates, were forming a unified country, Qatar was asked to join but instead decided to become an independent Country. The other bold and ground breaking decision was in 1993 when Qatar pulled out of Gulf Air, the largest Airline in the Arabian Peninsula, to form Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways has now become the best airline in the World.

So it was quite understandable that the buzz in the Editorial and Media community, in the UAE, when word spread that Al Jazeera Satellite Channel was launching just as the BBCs Arabic Language channel was closing down and laying off all its staff. The feeling was that if this new Channel was going to have the same capital, desire for excellence and top quality staff then the possibilities were endless.

A mere 16 years on and the Al Jazeera satellite network has received, in equal measure, brickbats and accolades. From being labelled as a terrorist network for showing videos from Osama Bin Laden and during the invasion of Iraq for showing dead and injured American soldiers. While on the other hand many Arab countries accuse Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for the Americans and anti-Arab for shining a spotlight on police brutality in Kuwait, bad governance in Egypt and for allowing Jews to be interviewed in Hebrew on the Network. While the Israelis have a voice into the Arab world through Al Jazeera even Israel accuses the channel of biased coverage in favour of Palestine.

There is no doubt that Al Jazeera is well funded through Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani and other investors as well as having the best talent through hiring quality from some of the other channels. In my opinion the question of unbiased reportage can be answered by mentioning that across the Gulf all references to Israel including all websites ending in .il are banned. However, Al Jazeera allows Israelis the opportunity to have their opinion, or as the logo says the opinion and the other opinion, heard. In an ironic way the fact that Al Jazeera is equally criticised by both sides is a testament to their commitment to allow all viewpoints airtime. So maybe, just maybe Al Jazeera is the only island of unbiased news network in the Media World.

Is Trust gained with age?

Posted: September 12, 2012 in Business, Media, Newspapers
Tags: , , , , , , ,
0

The more I watch the BBC, CNN, SKY News and the 10 other 24-hour news channels on my Foxtel subscription, the more I realise how ubiquitous news media has become across the World. The Internet and RSS feeds have enabled us to get news the instant it happens. Sometimes while it is happening, nothing new there you might say. But have we stopped to ask the question is what is am watching accurate? Have all the necessary facts been checked? Who has decided that this story or issue is important enough to be on the Television/web/print media?

The question I stopped to ponder: why do I find myself switching back to the BBC World Service? Why does HARDtalk, Panaroma, Breakfast with Frost (although sadly this show is no more), and The World Today still command viewers over the 100s of other new variations on CNN, SKY News and other News networks?

Reputation is a word that springs to mind. Trust gained over years of high quality reporting and reporters. A place you know you will get just the facts without the over the top antics and in your face style of reportage. Trying to take you into the midst of the action rather than framing the information to show you why the action is taking place. Thinking for you by saying this is what you should think of this issue rather than this is the issue in its entirety the good side, bad side and even the ugly truth.

Going back to the start of the BBC and the earlier incarnations under John Reith (Lord Reith to some) the Beeb did make its fair share of mistakes. The Independent television controversy when Sir Winston Churchill denounced the BBC as communist and Sir John Reith deciding to ban Churchill. More recently the BBC reported that the Ethiopian government used money raised for famine to pay for weapons. This incorrect and damaging report undid years of good work and had Bob Geldof and the Ethiopian ambassador to the UK challenge the report and call it a disgrace and ridiculous. While the BBC stood by the claims it finally relented and apologised since they did not have enough evidence. Even that bastion of reporting and journalistic integrity Panaroma had to back track on a story about Fake child labour footage from Bangalore, India. The footage in question claimed that Bangalore based suppliers of Primark, a large chain of retail stores were using child labour. To its credit the BBC conceded that the footage was not genuine, although the apology came after three years.

So how does the Beeb continue to be so trusted one might ask, scandals which go to the very heart of what a respected News channel needs to be about – being accurate, trustworthy and impartial. Perhaps it is the fact that the BBC does not claim to be infallible. Going even further the BBC is willing to publicly turn the microscope of investigative journalism and the hunt for the ‘story behind the story’ on itself.

One has to follow the positives that the BBC, as a global media outlet, has achieved from honesty in its reporting and the aim of its Charter to be politically independent and free from interference caused by commercial interests. Examples of the Beebs adherence to its Charter aims include openly admitting defeats during the Second World War which was in marked contrast to the propaganda of Germany’s radio stations. The BBC broadcasting honestly and some might say too openly, during the fighting with Argentina. When the BBC reported that the bombs being dropped on Royal Navy Ships were not detonating the Argentineans changed their fuses leading Admiral Sandy Woodward, commander of the British task force, to comment that the BBC was more concerned about fearless reporting the truth rather than the lives of British servicemen. There are other numerous instances where the British Broadcasting Corporate (BBC) has turned the microscope and placed the spotlight on their own ‘British’ government and reported the truth no matter how negative or unflattering.

The reputation of the BBC was enhanced as it was the prime mover into new markets such as Hungary, rest of Europe, Africa, Asia and finally into the Middle East. Reporting from every new country the ethos of telling the truth offering an in-depth and unbiased perspective led to The World Service reaching 188 million people a week on average in June 2009. It is also an interesting point to note that as I channel surf and stop at the Al Jazeera English News Channel I see many faces that previously and sometimes very recently were on the BBC channel. High praise I think, as the newest channel on the block and also the best bankrolled, Al Jazeera, recognises quality and the value of balanced journalist by paying enormous amounts to secure the services of these veteran BBC anchors.

While we might be inclined to say that just because the BBC has been around the longest and by virtue of its age it demands respect and a good reputations, I feel, that through the years the BBC has had its faults but by sticking to its Charter goals and being honest, fearless strivers for the truth: it has earned its reputation as a trusted global Media Band.