Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Former CNN'er: Why I'm Joining Al Jazeera
Source: Wall Street Journal Former CNN/International anchor Riz Khan recently took a job with Al Jazzera International. Here's an excerpt from an article in the WSJ in which Khan explains why he joined the network:
Consistently, I listened to Middle Easterners complain about how they felt Western networks had sold out on the way
they covered the news, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq. They felt that Al Jazeera was filling the gap.Personally, I just love the idea of starting up a channel from scratch like I did at BBC World. The managing director of Al Jazeera International, my friend, Nigel Parsons, was a senior producer working there at the time with me. We both realize that a significant opportunity like this one comes very rarely in one's lifetime. Plus, Al Jazeera International provides the ideal vehicle to bridge gaps between communities in the East and West. It'll be the first English-language news channel with an international perspective that is broadcasting from within the Middle East.
I'm fully aware of the negative image of the Al Jazeera brand in the U.S., especially at the government level, but I think part of that comes from a misunderstanding of the strong cultural position the Arabic-language channel has among the average people of the Middle East. It is extremely popular for being outspoken not only about the West but also about Arab governments.
# posted by ATN @ 10:57 AM 
