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Old 06-23-2008, 03:33 PM   #11
DanaC
We have to go back, Kate!
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
Quote:
It is possible that they tell the truth about what they cover, but choosing what to cover is where the bias is.
That is a very good point, Griff.

I don't really see where the problem lies, myself. The English language Al Jazeera that I have watched is not pushing an islamic agenda, nor is it overtly anti- American, the West, or Israel. What it does do is display a more sympathetic attitude towards, for example, Palestine in its reporting, and is rather more critical about Israel's actions, than most of the English news channels. That said, I don't think it hurts much to have that other perspective out there. Bear in mind, there is a world of difference between being critical of a country's actions or policies, and being anti- that country.

Given that the mainstay of their audience will be the English-speaking and therefore most assimilated portion of the immigrant arab population, it wouldn't be a very popular move to just slam America all the time. Like any news channel, their aim is not to keep their audience as small as humanly possible, therefore limiting themselves purely to the most stridently anti-American parts of the population would be a very poor business model. So far Al Jazeera has shown themselves more than capable of finding a respectable niche within the broadcasting spectrum.
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