Al-Jazeera

A. Why Al-Jazeera?

Al -Jazeera is a news organization that is based in Doha, the capital city of one the countries in the Middle East, Qatar. The reason why I’ve picked Al-Jazeera as the next news organization to do this project on, is because Al-Jazeera is one of the most famous news organization in the world, despite coming from a country that is not quite free yet. Qatar is placed on number 114 in the Press Freedom Index last year, which from there I could tell that it is not a free country. Because of that, for me it is interesting to see that Al-Jazeera is one of the most famous media outlets in the world with an online website and TV news channel that is accessible to several regions in the world, even though it didn’t come from a country with the most freedom for its press. Another reason why I have chosen Al-Jazeera, is because I would like to see its perspective on an issue that is happening on the other side of the world from where they are, and basically has nothing to do with the Middle East. Also, from what I have always known over the years, Al-Jazeera is the one media that represents the whole Middle Eastern area, therefore makes it more interesting to see how they have represented the whole region in presenting this issue.

B. Analysis

From what I have seen after reading up on the articles regarding the BP oil spill issue on the Al-Jazeera website, is that they do not really seem to have a perspective on the whole situation. I chose to involve Al-Jazeera on this project because I wanted to find an outsider’s opinion and perspective on the issue. Especially considering Al-Jazeera to be the one media outlet that can represent the whole Middle Eastern region, I wanted to see how the Middle Eastern view this issue, and whether or not they decide to lean towards either the US or the UK- even though there isn’t really anything going on in between the two countries as a whole. Therefore, I was very surprised to find that Al-Jazeera barely even reported on the issue, as there were less than fifty articles regarding the issue. They are only reporting on the issue when something with massive amount of magnitude happens in regards to the issue. Only then will they be writing up news stories on it. It is as if they are just reporting on that only because it is a tragedy that is highly controversial and has gotten people all over the world talking- therefore as a world renowned news organization, they have to report on the issue. But, as far as perspectives and opinions goes, I do not really think that they have any because it is not something that the Middle Eastern is involved with, therefore they shouldn’t be concerned about it. Although- maybe by not caring is an opinion in itself, or maybe they are just too preoccupied with what they have going on already around them.