Al Jazeera English's viewpoint

Rajeh Hayyal

Toronto — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009 02:55AM EDT

A good example of why we need Al Jazeera English (AJE) is its reporting, such as "Israel Permits New Settlement Homes" (Al Jazeera: Joy And Jitters - letters, June 30).
While mainstream media focus on Ehud Barak's trip to the U.S. to tout a compromise on settlement buildings, the AJE report reflects a different Israeli government modus operandi: Tell you what you want to hear and win your support, while still doing what it wants.
AJE will be a good counterbalance to pro-Israeli mainstream media.
We get such slanted pro western reporting ,that when we read anything in the paper, or watch "News" on CNN , it is embarassing! We do not get a balanced report.
The US news is not news, it is the white house telling the media what to report!
The US and I imagine Canada control who are at the newsconferences, and you can be damn sure that when Bush was in power, if someone asked a "hard" question they wouldn't be asked back, or they wouldn't get their chance at another question.

Al Jazeera shows the images that the western media will never show. Some would say that in itself lends a particular slant but I for one want to see the carnage exacted upon civilians in let's say, Iraq. But don't slam CNN because as far as I am concerned they are a lot more "fair and balanced" than those hysterical boners over at FAUX, oops, I meant FOX.

Isn't it interesting that the reporting is so incredibly different on CNN as compared to Fox, as compared to AlJazeera?
You really need to see all three and then the rebuttals.
Awhile back the U.S. "invaded"an Iranian consulate located in Iraq, and I thought it would be front page news! pretty big story walking in and removing all their computers, etc. Did you see it written up any where in bold print? Nope! Want to know why? The U.S. said it wasn't a consulate! End of story. Might is right!
That is my take on the U.S.!!

Agreed Rosen which is why I took huge paycuts and worked as an independent. I value integrity and credibility over my pocketbook. I spend probably about a good three hours a day, when possible, sourcing alternative sites and blogs with regards to certain regions.

Some years ago when we as a family were traveling through Morocco we had met some journos from Casablanca....we made arrangements to hook back up with them and socialize when we were done with Marrakech....one thing that one of the men said to me at that point and for me this was Post-Bosnia was how he had to write his stories catering to those folks who could "read between the lines" and this was due to the tight government controls over the press because at that time there were rumblings from the fundies in that region.....he worked for Moroccan mainstream media but it was a media that was wont in its own way to criticize the monarchy and at great risk. Thus the ability to write to an intelligent audience was absolutely necessary....

We are so pampered and privileged in the Americas in that for the most part we can say what we wish and not fear repercussions no matter how ridiculous or seditious our words may seem - in other words, let the people decide and not some frigging death squad.....

"At a time when Canadian newspapers and broadcasters are reducing coverage of foreign news, it is even more critical that Canadians can easily access coverage of international news and events," wrote the Arab Canadian Association of the Atlantic Provinces in a favourable comment.
"Al-Jazeera has broadcast pre-recorded videos or interviews with extremists, who proclaim that Jews are pigs born of monkeys, that Christians in the Muslim world are the fruit of the Crusades and must be punished and that violent jihad is the path to paradise,"
Tony Burman, a former CBC news executive who became managing director of Al Jazeera English two years ago, said he is buoyed by the fact there have been far more positive comments than negative.
"Contrary to what people would have predicted, the overwhelming sentiment was in favour of Al Jazeera English being in Canada," said Burman. He said out of 2,652 public comments submitted to the CRTC, there were only 39 that could be described as against bringing the broadcaster to Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/659527