Al Jazeera is Losing Battle for Independence

The Arab TV network has recently suffered an exodus of prominent staff members. Reporters and anchors in cities like Paris, London, Moscow, Beirut and Cairo have left Al Jazeera, despite what are seen as luxurious working conditions in centrally located offices. And despite the fact that the network is investing an estimated $500 million in the US, so as to reach even more viewers in the world’s largest television market – one in which its biggest competitor, CNN, is at home.

Al Jazeera has over 3,000 staff members and 65 correspondent offices worldwide – and viewers in some 50 million households throughout the Arab world. But it also has a problem: more than ever before, critics contend that the broadcaster is following a clear political agenda, and not adhering to the principles of journalistic independence.

Such accusations have been leveled against Western broadcasters as well, of course. But the charge would place Al Jazeera on a par with Fox News – which pursues the agenda of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch in the US – rather than CNN.

Indeed, the Arab programming of Al Jazeera – which means “the island” in Arabic – was launched in 1996 with a noble goal: it aimed to serve as an objective medium in a world of rigorous censorship.

The network broadcast messages from Osama bin Laden, prompting outraged criticism from the US, where it was referred to as a “terror network.” At the same time, it was the only Arab medium that regularly invited Israeli politicians to debates. Its correspondents didn’t hesitate to call former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a “dictator” – and Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak a “wimp.” What’s more, the network’s journalists reported on dissidents, including members of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, who were forced to rot in prison for years under Mubarak’s regime. Such courage and informative journalism earned Al Jazeera a number of awards.

Since the Arab Spring, though, many former dissidents have risen to power across the region – and these fledgling leaders often show little respect for democratic principles. Al Jazeera, however, has shamelessly fawned upon the new rulers.

Today, when Egyptians protest against President Mohammad Morsi and the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera is often critical of them, in the style of the old pro-government TV station. Conversely, Al Jazeera executives have ordered that Morsi’s decrees should be portrayed as pearls of wisdom. “Such a dictatorial approach would have been unthinkable before,” an ex-employee says. “In Egypt we have become the palace broadcaster for Morsi.”

This is rather surprising considering that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar and financier of the network, used to ban such blatant influence peddling. The walls of the TV station’s modern headquarters in Doha are decorated with quotations from free-thinkers like Bob Dylan and Mahatma Gandhi.

But the emir, who also has an autocratic style of leadership and occasionally puts unwanted journalists behind bars, is having an increasingly difficult time with independent spirits working on his favourite project….

Critics say that the emir now essentially trusts only his own people; the network’s director general is now a relative of the emir, as is the head of the advisory board. They are seemingly required to follow political guidelines laid down by the palace – instead of serving the interests of viewers. Thanks to its oil wealth, Qatar is blessed with the world’s second highest per capita income, and it’s a key geo-political player with a clear agenda.

Source: Spiegel, February 15