Al-Jazeera: Redefining Modern Journalism

In the book Al-Jazeera, The Story of the Network that is Rattling Governments and Redefining Modern Journalism (2003) by Mohammed El-Nawawy and Adel Iskandar, the authors’ purpose in writing the book is made clear from their very first statement in the premise where they argue that in a time when the "inevitable" clash of the Western world and the Arab world is predicted, the time for mutual understanding is now. Although the authors do not accept these "prophecies of doom," they do believe the predictions have become more and more difficult to challenge because of the current rhetoric about irreconcilable differences between the West and East. The true clash of civilizations, according to the authors, is not found on the real-life battlefields but in the homes of and mindsets of people viewing modern war media coverage. To begin to counteract this clash, El-Nawawy and Iskander hope to provide insight to readers about the Arab world and its quest for freedom of expression. In so doing, they help to make more clear the roots of conflict and turmoil in the Middle East. For this reason, the book is not just an historical account of the development of Al-Jazeera, it is a book that tries to enlighten readers about the quest for freedom from oppression, oppression that results in such tragedies as September 11^th. Militant religious fundamentalism, for example, is outcome of people living under the shadow of repressive regimes where issues of the public sphere are not discussed and not resolved. While there is a lot of information available about the media in the Middle East, there is little understanding about the Arab people themselves and how they respond to current events. These factors motivated the authors to write the book, and it seems clear that they reach their goal of revealing truths about the media’s impact on societies, both Western and Eastern, but especially Eastern, that are long overdue.

The book begins with the chapter entitled "We Are What We Watch," and an example of an Canadian/Arab family that has become addicted to the news since the airing of the Al-Jazeera network in Qatar, and their story is similar to many Arab families, both in Arab countries and outside. Thanks to satellite technology, the Helal family, for possibly the first time since immigrating to Canada, have an instant and unprecedented connection to their homeland with Arab voices speaking out about current news events. Kamal Helal used to watch CNN for current news, but has shifted to Al-Jazeera, not so much for the opportunity to hear Arab reports, although a bonus, but because of the events they chose to cover, such as daily coverage of the Israeli/Palestine Intifada. The family is critical of life in an Arab country, valuing the freedom of their new home, but there is much they value about their homeland as well. The family agrees, however, that for the first time, they hear controversial news reporting from the Arabian Gulf, which has traditionally presented little else but public relations for current Arab governments. On the Al-Jazeera talk shows, especially, they hear opinions being presented that can result in arrests in most Arab countries. As a family that migrated from Iraq, they remember the rhetoric of the superiority of the Iraqi empire that once occupied further territory, including Kuwait. The family views Al-Jazeera as a breath of fresh air from the pollution of "deliberately blinding programming" (p. 19).

The authors argue that the experience of the Helal family with Al-Jazeera are reflections of a larger dynamic. The response to Al-Jazeera sheds light on the history of Arab lives, the social and religious institutions that inform them, and the relationships they have with their governments. The tensions experienced by Arab audiences are also a part of their experience of globalization and migration, and Al-Jazeera is an important part of the current journey for it highlights not only what Arabs have in common, but what separates them. Furthermore, Al-Jazeera also reveals the connections that Arabs have with the rest of the world. Certain characteristics unite Arabs together in subtle ways, and when one Arab group of people face an event, its ripples are felt throughout Arab communities throughout the world. The authors suggest that the connection is not so much linguistic, political or even religious. "Instead, what brings Arabs together is a notion of joint destiny" (p. 20). Although Al-Jazeera is a news phenomenon, more importantly to the authors, it brings understanding about the Arab public and provides a unique look of the world through Arab eyes.

The second chapter of the book discusses the development and circumstances of the Al-Jazeera network and its rise to influence. However, the chapters of the book that may be more important are just as the authors suggest—the ones that reveal the Arab public and the "Arab Mind." Al-Jazeera has become perhaps the most popular television station in all of the Middle East, more so that daily soap operas or sitcoms. Most Arab viewers are obsessive about domestic, regional and international news, and Al-Jazeera has risen to meet this demand in a satisfying way. Most Arabs viewed traditional news programs with skepticism, understanding clearly that the concepts and images were controlled and limited. Interestingly, although Al-Jazeera is located in Qatar, it has managed to develop an identity that most Arabs can relate to due to the staff of Arabs from different countries, and also the intention to address issues that have universal appeal to Arab audiences. Although Al-Jazeera is by far the preferred news and program channel in the Arab world, this does not mean that the audience believes Al-Jazeera is completely objective. Eighty-five percent of those surveyed believe that Al-Jazeera is not entirely independent from the Qatar government, and that it still needs to establish more independence. However, it is still seen as the best broadcast organization to present live events, a pro-Arab perspective, controversial events and content, which is all revolutionary to an Arab audience. While its audience may see that the station contains bias and could be more objective, the station has caused harsh criticism from Arab governments who are "infuriated" by much of its content. During the Algerian civil war, for example, Al-Jazeera covered the Algerian opposition party and the Islamic fundamentalists’ role in the conflict in that state, much to the dismay of the Algerian government. Such various perspectives would not be aired on traditional Arabic television even though Arabs discuss such things privately. Publishing the type of content as found on the Al-Jazeera station violates long-standing Arab customs.

Al-Jazeera is certainly biased in the way that many news organizations are. For example, when reporting about Palestinian suicide bombers, Al-Jazeera uses the term "martyrs." Many consider this a violation of objectivity, and they are correct to be sensitive to the rhetoric used. However, this rhetoric is one of the reasons that Arabs prefer Al-Jazeera to Western news because in the Western context, the Palestinians are often referred to as assassins or terrorists, but the Israelis seldom are described with the same negative adjectives, feeding the belief that America assuredly supports Israel over Arabs. This acceptance of the Arab martyr, however, began to change after the September 11^th attacks, and this shift even applied to attacks against the Israelis. Al-Jazeera has aired the debate and the varying interpretations of resistance of Israeli occupation, again in an unprecedented manner. Al-Jazeera’s managing director explains that the staff of the broadcast station all have professional backgrounds, many with Western media; however, the purpose was to transform that experience into an Arabic presence. He states, "We know the mentality of the Arabs—but we also want the expatriate Arab audience, who are used to Western media" (p. 54). Another criticism of Al-Jazeera is that in its desire for audience ratings, (just like Western media outlets), the station is being led by the masses; it doesn’t lead the masses. The question becomes, say the authors, should the media lead the masses? Is this the role of the media? Ideally, the news media is completely objective; however, in its role on commercialized television, it would be hard to find any media that is completely objective, being also driven to respond to local sensibilities. Others criticize Al-Jazeera for being sensationalistic to win ratings and being nothing more than a tabloid. The authors point to an old Arabic saying, khalif to raf, which means "oppose and be known." Al-Jazeera has established itself by creating and driving controversy, and it appears that Arab audiences are ready for such controversy.

The book addresses many other issues regarding the Al-Jazeera phenomenon, including its influence on public discourse and civil liberties in the context of at the least authoritative, and at the worst, totalitarian states. The authors evaluate Al-Jazeera’s relationship with Arab governments, such content as fundamentalism vs. secularism and what many Arabs might perceive as "blasphemy on the airwaves." The scooping of Western news media is also explored. The book provides an inside look at the complexities of the Arab audience, and the development of Al-Jazeera as a revolutionary new voice in the Arab context, besides its growing influence in the Western world. Ultimately, it is not the story of the news station itself that is so interesting about the book; it is the story of the Arab people themselves that makes this book a compelling read. To reach a broad audience, which is certainly the hope if the book is to help bridge cultural gaps, it is accessible to a general audience, with many examples of real-life viewers, news subjects and content. It is a book that should be highly recommended for any reader who wants to explore the Arab world in a way that creates understanding and dismantles many Western assumptions about the Arab people. It is a book needed in a time where civilizations are clashing, but doom does not have to be the outcome.

El-Nawawy, M. & Iskander, A. (2003). Al-Jazeera: The Story of the Network That is Rattling Governments and Redefining Modern Journalism. Westview Press.