Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Al-Jazeera

148 replies

LondonGirl1968 · 12/10/2023 20:08

I was in the office this week and noticed that instead of BBC or Sky News as usual someone had turned on Al Jazeera. I have to say I was taken aback. It felt like a bit of a slap in the face. Felt very pointed in a week where such brutality has taken place.

OP posts:
SerenityNowInsanityLater · 12/10/2023 20:32

Oh how I’d love to hear your reasons as to why it felt like a slap in the face, OP. Go on, tell us… dig your own hole.

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 12/10/2023 20:32

quiteoldad · 12/10/2023 20:23

On the whole it's a pretty good channel, though it has significant blind spots. When there were the stories going around about bribery to secure the world cup in Qatar and the deaths on construction sites for it, there was a notable absence of reporting.

In its early days it managed to recruit some pretty good journalists from the BBC.

It evoked a wry smile from me that on the death of David Frost, in the tributes to him on the BBC, they hardly ever mentioned that he'd spent his last few years with the Al Jazheera .

It's owned by the Qatari state so not surprising it glossed over those sort of issues.

Coverage does tend to be good otherwise but as you say they're are blind spots. I'd imagine that since Qatar are one of the nations who do not recognise Israel their coverage of that issue might not be entirely free from bias.

MedievalWell · 12/10/2023 20:33

Thanks for this thread. A reminder to tune into this station for an alternative view.

Sorry for your trauma OP. Shame you didn’t do any research before jumping to post out of panic at the Arabic-sounding name.

zazazoop · 12/10/2023 20:33

YABU, Al jazzera has excellent coverage of Middle Eastern affairs and correspondents in both Palestine and Israel (something the other channels don't appear to have). What is your problem with them?

HJ40 · 12/10/2023 20:35

Al Jazeera has a really interesting history. Many in the UK wouldn't be aware of it's current reputation for balanced and broad based views.

The only time it's been significantly in the UK main stream media was when it was the station to which Osama bin Laden sent his videos for airing.

I know I have had to readjust my thinking; the natural association in my head was, for a long time, that it was effectively spokesman for terrorists.

App1es · 12/10/2023 20:36

It 'felt like a bit of a slap in the face' that you were forced to watch excellent reporting on a world- renowned news channel or that you were forced to watch excellent reporting on a world- renowned news channel which doesn't have the biases that you are accustomed to?

Although, as you didn't bother watching it, I can only assume that there's an element of underlying racism and islamaphobia at play.

'White is right' isn't a motto you should live by. Al Jazeera have an excellent broadcast service and their website is highly informative, with some excellent quality journalism. You should have a look before judging.

FOJN · 12/10/2023 20:36

OP you shouldn't take our word for it you should watch it and then compare Al-Jazeera reporting with your regular news sources.

Their correspondents also seem to go to places many others wouldn't, they seem fearless.

blanketsmell · 12/10/2023 20:38

LondonGirl1968 · 12/10/2023 20:18

Fair enough. I don’t really know about them but am very happy to be told I’m unreasonable!

Why did it feel like a slap then?

Scirocco · 12/10/2023 20:39

If you don't know anything about the channel, @LondonGirl1968 , what about it was so offensive or concerning?

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/10/2023 20:40

HJ40 · 12/10/2023 20:35

Al Jazeera has a really interesting history. Many in the UK wouldn't be aware of it's current reputation for balanced and broad based views.

The only time it's been significantly in the UK main stream media was when it was the station to which Osama bin Laden sent his videos for airing.

I know I have had to readjust my thinking; the natural association in my head was, for a long time, that it was effectively spokesman for terrorists.

Upwards of 6 million UK users (if my quick googling is correct). Second only to US users. It's a boring, mainstream source of news.

Of course all news sources have biases. The trick is to read widely so you find what those differences are.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 12/10/2023 20:43

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/10/2023 20:23

Anything with Al-something is BAAAADDDD. Haven't you heard?

I always go to Al-Jazeera for news. As well as everywhere else. If you think the BBC is a neutral source you are deluded.

Show quote history

It's a good job Al Gore isn't running for president at the moment.

HJ40 · 12/10/2023 20:45

@MrsTerryPratchett Very fair comment. If I rephrase it to "the only time it's been frequently mentioned on the BBC or ITV" then that better illustrates what I mean.

The OP is the kind of idiotic comment I expect from my DM reading MIL, because once upon a time, someone said...

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/10/2023 20:45

Can you imagine @LivingDeadGirlUK ?

The horror.

Bloomingmagnolia · 12/10/2023 20:48

You don’t sound particularly bright OP. You could have done a little research on the channel or even (heaven forfend) watch its reporting. I think having a news channel based in the Middle East reporting on MEern issues is crucial for understanding a different perspective. Do you think Western outlets are the only source of credible reporting?

Liloandswitch · 12/10/2023 20:50

People are really trying to shit stir tonight.
You need to get better propaganda, mumsnet are too smart for this shit.

BennyBlancofromtheBronx · 12/10/2023 20:50

LivingDeadGirlUK · 12/10/2023 20:43

It's a good job Al Gore isn't running for president at the moment.

Show quote history

I heard an Al Green song on the radio earlier and was disgusted. And don't get me started on that Al Pacino fella.

tara66 · 12/10/2023 20:50

It's quite a good channel - I think it is out of Qatar.

MaydinEssex · 12/10/2023 20:55

LondonGirl1968 · 12/10/2023 20:08

I was in the office this week and noticed that instead of BBC or Sky News as usual someone had turned on Al Jazeera. I have to say I was taken aback. It felt like a bit of a slap in the face. Felt very pointed in a week where such brutality has taken place.

Don't understand why you are getting so many sarcy comments, I know what you meant.

JaneKatSuttonGoals · 12/10/2023 20:55

It's not part of my regular viewing but you should try it OP I first watched it during Iraq invasion when I noticed bbc/sky were using pictures from Al Jazeera.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 12/10/2023 20:57

MaydinEssex · 12/10/2023 20:55

Don't understand why you are getting so many sarcy comments, I know what you meant.

Show quote history

Can you explain it to the rest of us, then? Why would it be a slap in the face?

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 12/10/2023 20:58

Wow, they walk among us.

it’s an excellent source of news. Not perfect, but more balanced than the Beeb!

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 12/10/2023 20:58

Yabu! It's one of the most respected news outlets in the world. I watch it regularly🙄

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/10/2023 20:59

Yes, please explain @MaydinEssex

W0tnow · 12/10/2023 20:59

.

TheShellBeach · 12/10/2023 21:00

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 12/10/2023 20:58

Yabu! It's one of the most respected news outlets in the world. I watch it regularly🙄

Same here.