International Broadcasting News
Posted November 15, 2006 on 6:46 pm | In the category Press, Public Diplomacy, International Broadcasting | by JeffAl Jazeera International (AJI) begins broadcasting in English from studios in Washington, DC today with a staff that includes former “Nightline” anchor Dave Marash. It is unlikely that AJI will attract a large listenership in the U.S. for reasons both ideological and practical. The station will not be carried in the U.S. by cable giant Comcast and, in fact, it is difficult to find out just who will carry it. This is unfortunate since it seems worthwhile for Americans to have an opportunity to assess the network on its own merits and to learn something about the Arab world and its views on events. The U.S. administration, especially the Defense Department has been highly critical of its Arabic broadcasts and for its willingness to broadcast Osama Bin Laden videotapes. But a country that can put up with Rush Limbaugh and the O’Reilly Factor ought to be able to listen to Al Jazeera without losing its collective marbles.
In an unrelated story…President Bush has renominated Ken Tomlinson as Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors and for a term on the Board expiring in 10 months. The Board oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV Marti and several emerging broadcast initiatives in the Middle East. Tomlinson has been criticized for financial irregularities, but most likely these are in part a smokescreen for more substantive issues related to the declining quality of U.S. international broadcasting. More on the general topic of U.S. international broadcasting later.
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It is probably a good thing that Al Jazeera will be very difficult to get. Concerned citizens, with a curiosity about the climate in the Arab world, may be tempted to tune in. This could land the viewers on a government watch-list, subject to wire taps and investigations. If the Justice Department is keeping track of library patrons, they would certainly be interested in Al Jazeera subscribers.
There are larger and more troubling national attitudes behind this conventional wisdom. The first is the general idea that all of America is good, while the rest of the world, most notably, the Middle East (with the exception of Israel) is somehow innately bad. Because of this underlying sentiment we set ourselves up for an uninformed public, and immoral behavior. The second attitude that that undermines our public knowledge is the attitude of fear. I would argue that most all of the Americans who would tune in to AJI would be afraid at the minimum to be perceived as un-patriotic, and the maximum of being subjected to some sort of government intervention.
Where will all our future statesmen (not to mention voters) come from? An informed public is vital to keeping our great country, well, great. Greatness is not a birth right; it must be earned by each generation. It is not enough to wave a flag, put a sticker on the back of the car, and go to church every Sunday. Just as in any relationship, people, citizens and nations can not be changed from the outside in. Our best hope is to lead the world by example, as we have done for hundreds of years. That example certainly starts with our freedoms, and quite likely the 1st Amendment.
Comment by Jr. — November 17, 2006 #
right on Jr.! I for one would like to be able to tune into Al Jazeera International and see what the competition is saying. It is almost impossible to be worse than most of what we get from the networks and the cable outlets and if nothing else gives us the opportunity to see things through a different prism. We do not have to agree but we do a disservice to ourselves when we close our eyes and ears.
It will be interesting to see if there is any kind of demand generated in the U.S. - end of the day, there wold have to be demand for the cable providers to react.
Comment by Jeff — November 17, 2006 #