Al JazeeraAl JazeeraMeans “Means “the peninsulathe peninsula” or “” or “the the islandisland””The most controversial television The most controversial television station in the worldstation in the world

Located in the Middle East, Located in the Middle East, country of country of QatarQatar

The station gained worldwide attention The station gained worldwide attention following the following the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks, when it , when it broadcast video statements by broadcast video statements by OsamaOsama bin Laden bin Laden and other and other al-al-QaedaQaeda leaders leaders

Al Jazeera channel was started in 1996 Al Jazeera channel was started in 1996 Al Jazeera's availability (via satellite) Al Jazeera's availability (via satellite)

throughout the Middle East changed throughout the Middle East changed the television landscape of the region. the television landscape of the region.

Before Al Jazeera, many Middle Before Al Jazeera, many Middle Eastern citizens were unable to Eastern citizens were unable to watch TV channels other than state-watch TV channels other than state-censored national TV stations. censored national TV stations.

CensorshipCensorship…The control of what …The control of what people read, write, see, or hear. people read, write, see, or hear.

Done to protect a ruling authority Done to protect a ruling authority from possible downfallfrom possible downfall

Done to protect people from the Done to protect people from the wrong ideas and messages. (As wrong ideas and messages. (As claimed by certain governments)claimed by certain governments)

Also done to protect your rights of not Also done to protect your rights of not being exposed to indecent and obscene being exposed to indecent and obscene materialmaterial

Carrollton High School does not censorCarrollton High School does not censor Censorship in the USA is illegalCensorship in the USA is illegal. Control . Control

over indecent material is acceptable. over indecent material is acceptable. Complete banning of obscene material is Complete banning of obscene material is acceptable.acceptable.

Censorship was made illegal in the Censorship was made illegal in the Communications Act of 1934Communications Act of 1934

Side note….Side note….Communications Act of 1934 Communications Act of 1934 was updated with the Communications was updated with the Communications Act of 1996.Act of 1996.

It is widely believed internationally It is widely believed internationally that inhabitants of the Arab world that inhabitants of the Arab world are given limited information by are given limited information by their governments and media, and their governments and media, and that what is conveyed is that what is conveyed is biasedbiased towards the governments' views. towards the governments' views.

Beware of governments that control Beware of governments that control all the media and don’t allow free all the media and don’t allow free press. Example is Zimbabwe. There press. Example is Zimbabwe. There is only one point of view, one truth, is only one point of view, one truth, one reality…what the government one reality…what the government says.says.

Al Jazeera is an international Al Jazeera is an international Arabic-languageArabic-language 24h 24h news channelnews channel … …the CNN of the Middle East.the CNN of the Middle East.

Al Jazeera introduced a level of Al Jazeera introduced a level of freedom of speechfreedom of speech on TV that was on TV that was previously unheard of in many middle previously unheard of in many middle east countries. east countries.

Al Jazeera is popular because of its Al Jazeera is popular because of its bold, uncensored news coverage, its bold, uncensored news coverage, its unbridled political debates, and its call-unbridled political debates, and its call-in-show formats that tackle a range of in-show formats that tackle a range of sensitive social, political, and cultural sensitive social, political, and cultural issues. issues.

Al Jazeera was the only station allowed to Al Jazeera was the only station allowed to have live coverage of the USA attack on have live coverage of the USA attack on Afghanistan. All other stations were told Afghanistan. All other stations were told to get out.to get out.

Al Jazeera’s reporter Al Jazeera’s reporter Tayseer AllouniTayseer Allouni is in is in jail for helping Al Qaeda.jail for helping Al Qaeda.

The USA may have tried to get him in The USA may have tried to get him in Afghanistan by accidentally blowing up Afghanistan by accidentally blowing up Al Al Jazeera’sJazeera’s Kabul Bureau.Kabul Bureau.

We also may have tried to get him when We also may have tried to get him when the USA accidentally blew up the USA accidentally blew up Al Jazeera’s Al Jazeera’s Baghdad Bureau. (Along with silencing the Baghdad Bureau. (Along with silencing the station)station)

It was later reported that President It was later reported that President Bush had  wanted to bomb al-Jazeera's Bush had  wanted to bomb al-Jazeera's headquarters in Qatar too, but had headquarters in Qatar too, but had been discouraged from doing so by been discouraged from doing so by the British prime minister, Tony Blair. the British prime minister, Tony Blair.

What is a Television What is a Television BureauBureau

Where a tv station or tv network will Where a tv station or tv network will set up an office in another country. set up an office in another country. Done for better news coverage. Al Done for better news coverage. Al Jazeera has a bureau in Washington Jazeera has a bureau in Washington DCDC

CNN BureausCNN Bureaus

AmmanAmman, , JordanJordan (small (small bureau) bureau)

AthensAthens, , GreeceGreece (small (small bureau) bureau)

BaghdadBaghdad, , IraqIraq BangkokBangkok, , ThailandThailand BerlinBerlin, , GermanyGermany BeijingBeijing, , ChinaChina BeirutBeirut, , LebanonLebanon BogotáBogotá, , ColombiaColombia (small (small

bureau) bureau) BrusselsBrussels, , BelgiumBelgium (small (small

bureau) bureau) Buenos AiresBuenos Aires, , ArgentinaArgentina CairoCairo, , EgyptEgypt DubaiDubai, , United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates FrankfurtFrankfurt, , GermanyGermany (small (small

bureau) bureau)

Havana, Cuba Hong Kong, China (Asian regional headquarters) Islamabad, Pakistan Istanbul, Turkey Jakarta, Indonesia Jerusalem, Israel Johannesburg, South Africa Lagos, Nigeria London, United Kingdom(Eu headquarters)Madrid, Spain Manila, Philippines (small bureau) Mexico City, Mexico Moscow, Russia Nairobi, Kenya (small bureau) New Delhi, India Rome, Italy Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (small bureau) São Paulo, Brazil (small bureau) Seoul, South Korea Tokyo, Japan

Al Jazeera has tried to live up to its Al Jazeera has tried to live up to its motto: "The Opinion and the Other motto: "The Opinion and the Other Opinion" They also follow "We get Opinion" They also follow "We get both sides of the story." both sides of the story."

Thanks to its aggressive coverage, Thanks to its aggressive coverage, Al-Jazeera claims at least 50-million Al-Jazeera claims at least 50-million viewers in the Arab world and viewers in the Arab world and 175,000 who pay to watch it it on 175,000 who pay to watch it it on cable in North America. Its Web site cable in North America. Its Web site gets 17-million hits a day. gets 17-million hits a day.

Possible problemsPossible problems

Al-Jazeera's alleged anti-American Al-Jazeera's alleged anti-American editorial bias.editorial bias.

The supposed connections of some The supposed connections of some reporters to Al-Quedareporters to Al-Queda

Acting as a mouthpiece for Osama bin Acting as a mouthpiece for Osama bin Laden Laden

The extremely graphic pictures and The extremely graphic pictures and videos that are shown on the channel and videos that are shown on the channel and how those images affect their home how those images affect their home audience and the world audience.audience and the world audience.

The CIA was concerned that bin Laden The CIA was concerned that bin Laden might be sending secret messages might be sending secret messages through his videotaped statements through his videotaped statements

Condoleeza Rice, the national security Condoleeza Rice, the national security adviser, called and visited with top adviser, called and visited with top American network and newspaper American network and newspaper representatives, urging them to consider representatives, urging them to consider the dangers of airing bin Laden’s views.the dangers of airing bin Laden’s views.

Condoleeza Rice requested networks not Condoleeza Rice requested networks not to air Al-Jazeera's bin Laden footage to air Al-Jazeera's bin Laden footage because he might be transmitting coded because he might be transmitting coded messages, they immediately said they messages, they immediately said they wouldn't wouldn't

U.S. government officials asked Al U.S. government officials asked Al Jazeera to not air Osama’s videos in Jazeera to not air Osama’s videos in full as they may contain secret full as they may contain secret messages to terrorists.messages to terrorists.

Journalists and others in the Arab Journalists and others in the Arab world see the United States as world see the United States as hypocritical for pressuring Al-hypocritical for pressuring Al-Jazeera to modify its coverage. They Jazeera to modify its coverage. They say we represent no censorship yet say we represent no censorship yet we are asking Al Jazeera to censor.we are asking Al Jazeera to censor.

Al Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera English

Al Jazeera English is the world’s first Al Jazeera English is the world’s first global English language news global English language news channel to be headquartered in the channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. Middle East.

The station claims to be the first The station claims to be the first global global high-definition televisionhigh-definition television network. network.

The channel was launched on The channel was launched on 15 November15 November 20062006. .

The channel had expected to reach The channel had expected to reach around 40 million households, but it around 40 million households, but it far exceeded that launch target, far exceeded that launch target, reaching 80 million homesreaching 80 million homes

The channel is now one of the three The channel is now one of the three biggest global English language 24 biggest global English language 24 hour news channels, the other two hour news channels, the other two being being BBC WorldBBC World and and CNN InternationalCNN International

Al Jazeera English has 21 supporting Al Jazeera English has 21 supporting bureaux which gather and produce bureaux which gather and produce news. news.

AJE will have broader horizons, AJE will have broader horizons, aiming to draw a billion-plus English aiming to draw a billion-plus English speakers from Madagascar to Maine speakers from Madagascar to Maine -- for Muslims, yes, but also for -- for Muslims, yes, but also for anyone else who wants another anyone else who wants another perspective on the day's news. perspective on the day's news.

In other words, AJE is hoping to In other words, AJE is hoping to become the first non-Western source become the first non-Western source to challenge the global info-to challenge the global info-supremacy of CNN and the BBC. supremacy of CNN and the BBC.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has accused al-Jazeera of "vicious lies" has accused al-Jazeera of "vicious lies" and "a pattern of playing propaganda and "a pattern of playing propaganda over and over" in its coverage of the over and over" in its coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And U.S. officials have been upset by And U.S. officials have been upset by footage of American military deaths footage of American military deaths and al-Jazeera's unstinting coverage of and al-Jazeera's unstinting coverage of the wars' effect on civilians. the wars' effect on civilians.

American news channels tend to "show American news channels tend to "show the missiles taking off," "Al-Jazeera the missiles taking off," "Al-Jazeera shows them landing." shows them landing."

Al HurraAl Hurra

Is a Is a United StatesUnited States-based -based satellite TVsatellite TV channel, sponsored by the U.S. channel, sponsored by the U.S. government.government.

Al Hurra (which means "Al Hurra (which means "the free onethe free one" in " in Arabic) started broadcasting Valentine's Arabic) started broadcasting Valentine's Day 2004 as an answer to Al Jazeera’s Day 2004 as an answer to Al Jazeera’s unfavorable reporting.unfavorable reporting.

The station is forbidden from The station is forbidden from broadcasting within the U.S. itself under broadcasting within the U.S. itself under the 1948 the 1948 Smith-Smith-MundtMundt Act Act. .

22 countries in the Middle East region22 countries in the Middle East region

US Information and Educational US Information and Educational Exchange Act ofExchange Act of 19481948 is also is also called the called the Smith-Mundt ActSmith-Mundt Act

Signed into law by president Harry Signed into law by president Harry S. Truman on January 27, 1948 S. Truman on January 27, 1948

The legislation funded global The legislation funded global propaganda outreach using all the propaganda outreach using all the latest communication technologies.latest communication technologies.

Prohibited US distribution of Prohibited US distribution of information intended for foreign information intended for foreign audiences. Protection from our own audiences. Protection from our own propaganda.propaganda.

Turned government-funded Turned government-funded broadcasting and information programs broadcasting and information programs into a Cold War into a Cold War classifiedclassified weapon. weapon.

Our international radio station the Our international radio station the VOAVOA or or Voice of AmericaVoice of America may broadcast to may broadcast to other countries and not to our own.other countries and not to our own.

Radio SawaRadio Sawa is our arabic language is our arabic language radio station in the Middle East. It falls radio station in the Middle East. It falls under this act.under this act.

TV/RADIO MARTITV/RADIO MARTI…our Anti-Castro …our Anti-Castro station in Florida falls under this act.station in Florida falls under this act.

Alhurra has pledged to provide Alhurra has pledged to provide accurate and balanced news. Arab accurate and balanced news. Arab audiences have been skeptical of the audiences have been skeptical of the channel's motives. channel's motives.

Alhurra’s broadcasting is varied, Alhurra’s broadcasting is varied, targeted at the general public, targeted at the general public, particularly those under the age of particularly those under the age of 30. Programs include entertainment, 30. Programs include entertainment, documentaries, and news. Alhurra documentaries, and news. Alhurra has expressed their intention to be has expressed their intention to be as unbiased as possible.as unbiased as possible.

PropagandaPropaganda

PropagandaPropaganda is a type of message is a type of message aimed at influencing the opinions or aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of people. behavior of people.

Propaganda can be deliberately Propaganda can be deliberately misleading misleading

"Propaganda is neutrally defined as a "Propaganda is neutrally defined as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media factual) via mass and direct media channels. A propaganda organization channels. A propaganda organization employs propagandists who engage in employs propagandists who engage in propagandism—the applied creation and propagandism—the applied creation and distribution of such forms of persuasion."distribution of such forms of persuasion."—R.A. Nelson, —R.A. Nelson, A Chronology and Glossary A Chronology and Glossary of Propaganda in the United Statesof Propaganda in the United States, 1996 , 1996

Alhurra's reporters are told not to Alhurra's reporters are told not to refer to the U.S. presence in Iraq as refer to the U.S. presence in Iraq as an occupation. an occupation.

Those who set off explosive devices Those who set off explosive devices attached to their bodies are called attached to their bodies are called suicide bombers, not martyrs." suicide bombers, not martyrs."

Al Hurra reporters covering Iraq Al Hurra reporters covering Iraq "focus on more human-interest and "focus on more human-interest and positive stories. For instance, positive stories. For instance, 'electricity has arrived in this 'electricity has arrived in this neighborhood,' not 'this neighborhood neighborhood,' not 'this neighborhood still doesn't have electricity'. still doesn't have electricity'.

The channel sees its role as The channel sees its role as promoting democracy and winning promoting democracy and winning over public opinion in the Arab over public opinion in the Arab world. world.

They have 20 million viewersThey have 20 million viewers They are not really effective with They are not really effective with

their programming yet…still trying their programming yet…still trying to figure out how to approach the to figure out how to approach the culture of their audience.culture of their audience.