Al Jazeera has always based itself on impartial reporting, fair analysis etc - basically it was based on BBC values. I think it is really important that they keep this when in America. Inevitably they are going to be accused of being on the political left, but they need to fight that. I suspect there will be a series of poachings over the coming weeks (CNN International is probably especially vulnerable to this) but they may not want to take anchors who have publically expressed a certain political position.
I also think it is interesting that they are launching a nightly business programme. I have always been surprised at the lack of business news on AJE, and I have wondered if they would ever consider launching a business channel. Perhaps we will see around the world now more business on the channel?
Al Jazeera has always based itself on impartial reporting, fair analysis etc - basically it was based on BBC values. I think it is really important that they keep this when in America. Inevitably they are going to be accused of being on the political left, but they need to fight that. I suspect there will be a series of poachings over the coming weeks (CNN International is probably especially vulnerable to this) but they may not want to take anchors who have publically expressed a certain political position.
I also think it is interesting that they are launching a nightly business programme. I have always been surprised at the lack of business news on AJE, and I have wondered if they would ever consider launching a business channel. Perhaps we will see around the world now more business on the channel?
Kamahl Santamaria does a weekly business-esque programme called "Counting the Cost". It may only be 30 minutes a week, but it's of very high quality and offers something different from the daily business offerings of the other news channels. I agree with you: would be good to see more business output on AJE. But not just a flat sprint through the markets, etc.
Are any current US anchors known for expressing a certain political view? Referring to the last sentence of your first para?
Are any current US anchors known for expressing a certain political view? Referring to the last sentence of your first para?
Absolutely. Plenty of anchors on Fox News and MSNBC takes a point of view. It used to be restricted to primetime anchors, but a lot of the dayside anchors are starting to do more point-of-view programming. Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Sustren— all the Fox News anchors tow the Republican Party line. MSNBC also has a very clear point of view in leaning to the left with Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes, Chris Matthews, among many others, but I would argue that MSNBC is more advocacy journalism in comparison to Fox's partisan pandering.
I'd love to see AJA poach the CNNI American-based staff (aside from the ones who joined years ago). Hala Gorani would be a great addition for a primetime program. I'd also love to see Riz Khan's show come back.
This news channel is going to be a huge change for American media hopefully.
As Charles said, the two big news channels, FOX News and MSNBC, tow the right and left party lines. FOX does it doggedly so, and this has also transitioned along to the discussion around Al Jazeera even launching an American news channel - NBC/MSNBC being more leniant (as they have former AJ employees, and some connections with them I believe) whilst FOX News has had multiple segments during daytime and primetime unashamedly calling Al Jazeera, from 'Terror TV' to 'Anti-American'. It'll be interesting to see how they cover the launch.
As for talent, it does sound like bosses want some well known names, Ali Velshi is a good start and I can see a few names from CNN/NBC continuing to move in the coming months. One big name is Ann Curry, of NBC's Today until she was effectively fired and given a chief correspondent role - columnists in US media have already said she 'admires' Al Jazeera and would suit the network as she likes their kind of reporting - but if she would ever go to the network is a different matter!
I also think it is interesting that they are launching a nightly business programme. I have always been surprised at the lack of business news on AJE, and I have wondered if they would ever consider launching a business channel. Perhaps we will see around the world now more business on the channel?
That's a really intriguing thought. Considering that Qatar and other areas in the Middle East are becoming a hub for global business, it makes sense to provide business news from this perspective. I'd be surprised if that wasn't a consideration in the coming years.
I also think it is interesting that they are launching a nightly business programme. I have always been surprised at the lack of business news on AJE, and I have wondered if they would ever consider launching a business channel. Perhaps we will see around the world now more business on the channel?
That's a really intriguing thought. Considering that Qatar and other areas in the Middle East are becoming a hub for global business, it makes sense to provide business news from this perspective. I'd be surprised if that wasn't a consideration in the coming years.
Al Jazeera are probably looking at the prospect...
In terms of the English speaking world, theres already CNBC which is, internationally, quite a big business channel. In Arabic, theres CNBC Arabia and also Al Jazeera's biggest competitor, Al Arabiya, which runs a schedule whereby during the day, they have half hour news bulletins and then half hour business bulletins, which are quite popular.
It used to be restricted to primetime anchors, but a lot of the dayside anchors are starting to do more point-of-view programming. Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Sustren- all the Fox News anchors tow the Republican Party line.
I think Fox News do more than merely
toe
the party line - they rejoice it and bask in its glow.