Issues
Al Jazeera English
An interview with the International Managing Director of Al Jazeera, Nigel Parsons
What is al-Jazeera International's target audience, and in what way will the English channel differ from the Arabic al-Jazeera?
Ideally we want to appeal to as large an audience as possible. People who have English either as a first language, or a second language. People with questioning minds and who are seeking a fresh perspective on the news, one that is not limited to one viewpoint of one nation or people - one that addresses concerns around the world.
We are proud to be part of the Al Jazeera network of channels and we plan to draw on the heritage of our sister channel, Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera International will be editorially independent and make its own decisions but we will draw on the resources of Al Jazeera Arab language channel where appropriate.
We are catering to a global audience and will be committed to presenting all sides of an issue, which is why we pride ourselves on offering a unique 360 degree perspective on world events. Our internationally experienced news and editorial staff will utilise a wide range of resources to ensure that a fair and factual reporting of the news will conform to the highest level of journalistic ethics and integrity that our English-speaking audience can trust and feel comfortable with.
In your opinion, will al-Jazeera International be in direct competition with the BBC in the West, and in what way?
We are not launching to compete with the BBC or any other existing network. We are a unique, first of a kind global station to broadcast from inside the Middle East, offering a fresh, 360 degree perspective on world news. We are not trying to follow anyone else’s agenda, we are setting our own.
We don’t expect Al Jazeera International to replace the BBC or any other news network. In fact, we hope they watch BBC in addition to our network. But we recognise that there is a craving for information that is open and unvarnished, that presents a full range of issues and opinions. We hope that in time Al Jazeera International becomes our audience’s preferred choice.
Considering the controversy surrounding al-Jazeera, how do you think you will be able to win over Western audiences?
Before the war in Afghanistan, Al Jazeera Arab language channel was hailed as a beacon of freedom in the Middle East. Many Arabs had not seen an Israeli before they were shown on Al Jazeera – the channel does try to show both sides of the story and of the Arab Israeli conflict. In Iraq and Afghanistan Al Jazeera was almost alone in showing the Iraqi side to the world, unlike other networks whose journalists were embedded with US soldiers. Al Jazeera is blamed wrongly as a voice of terrorism very often by people who don’t speak Arabic and can’t comprehend the full extent of the channels coverage.
As we will be broadcasting in English to a global audience, we will be able to be judged first hand by a much wider audience.
Do you expect wide criticism to be directed at al-Jazeera International, or in more general terms do you expect to encounter the same constraints which al-Jazeera experienced in both the Middle East and the West?
Same answer as above.
In your opinion, what role could Western news outlets in Arabic play in the Middle East?
We are relieved that others are finally recognising the value of international news. Of course the reason we launched our channel in the first place is that other networks were unable to supply well-informed international news. We are flattered that they are now finally following our lead.
-- Nigel Parsons
International Managing Director of Al Jazeera
Information gathered by Chiara Sulmoni, Research Assistant
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- Origin CERMAM
- http://www.cermam.org/en/logs/dossier/al_jazeera_english/
- Publié le 27 November 2005