Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera:

1. I think that the internet will be a very effective medium to reach a U.S. audience. The United States has realized that we live in a time of globalization and the opinion of foreign countires does impact the United State. Al Jazeera provides a more neutral news source than media outlets within the United States because it is not owned by U.S. entities with special interests.

2. I personally think Al Jazeera should be allowed to be broadcast in the United States. It would open the minds of U.S. citizens and allow people to see the issue from the other side, increasing the knowledge of international affairs and relations. I spent several months in Africa and they receive thier news from Al Jazeera, after watching it for several months I can say it provides a more bipartisan and fair way of looking at the news. It is a refreshing news source and just becuase it has Arabic ties does not mean it has a connection to terrorism, that is ignorance and exposing people to Al Jazeera could reduce this misunderstanding and brutal stereotypes that exist between European American(caucasians) and people of Middle Eastern descent.

3. It takes a more global approach and tells the story from a neutral stance, whereas the U.S. reports news which will impact our nation. Al Jazeera is more focused on the international community. They do not allow advertisers to set their news agenda. Advertisers have incredible power in the U.S. media. Also diverse groups are represented, not just the majority. In the U.S. the white dominant culture is portrayed in a certain, often more positive light than minorities creating a cultural narrative and reinforcing negative stereotypes.

4. Al Jazeera lives up to its' Code of Ethics, it maintains a neutral viewpoint on news. It also presents diverse viewpoints, ackowledges human diversity through covering a range of issues that are occuring in the global community. Al Jazeera aims to achieve honest and truthful journalism which I believe they do more so than in the U.S. because they are not aiming to paint a specific nation or party in a certain light, rather are presenting the reality of the event or situation at hand.

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