A semi-government entity throws gajillions of dollars at creating a media empire that is intended to stand proud on the world stage amid lofty declarations of editorial independence and world-class journalism. Then reality (and censorship) sink in and the wheels fall off the apple cart. One by one, the start-up staff leave, to be replaced by either under-qualified locals, or inept expatriates.
Sound familiar? This particular storyline has been run countless times over the last decade. Al Jazeera English is the latest in a long line....
Can anything save the ailing channel?
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6 comments:
Some places (ITP?) seem to have been entirely started by inept expats - so what's the next move for them?
But this is quite sad news - AJ was one of the big hopes for global media and was the news channel of choice for a period. Now it looks like a circus.
Sometimes this part of the world just resembles a giant game of Sim City...
There was a really weird news bulletin on Al Jazeera this morning - story after story about things that are wrong with China - too much reliance on coal, people dying in the snowfall, fish farms going out of business in the snowfall etc. An Everything That's Wrong With China Bumper Edition Special Report, it seemed.
Lots of China falling apart stories on CNN as well. They've had big problems there...
Many of the TV reporters and presenters who were hired in the beginning were past their sell-by date. Particualry the western ones. EX-BBC, ex-ITN, ex-CNN mainly working freelance or just too old and forgotten about. They must be thanking their lucky stars Al Jazeera came into being.
Nah - that's not true - sure some were older but I knew young, sharp guys from UK Channel 4 news and the like recruited in. Anyway, many new start ups need some old experienced heads - gives some depth. Slagging off the journalists/colleagues won't really cut it - quite clearly the owners hadn't a clue.
One or 2 journos of E Taody, the Arabic daily is being accused by Dubai police chief D.K., of taking bribery, he is to deliver the proof himself to its management tomorrow. This follows a spat of accusations between them that has been creating a buzz in the pages of Arabic fusepaper and LOCAL FM/TV channels. Will keep you folks posted on the names of the 2 hacks.
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