Al-Jazeera: How the Free Arab News Network Scooped the World and Changed the Middle East

This book sheds light unto a very controversial subject- Al-Jazeera. It shows the history and financing of the station. It also, shows how this station has united, to a degree, the Arab world. In total, the material is factual and intrusive- just as a news channel should be.

Al Jazeera is giving us a vivid and moving picture of a New Arab World in the making. There is no way to go back in times. This media channel is succeeding to keep one step ahead of many others advancing, foreign or local, TVs. Live transmissions are notably courageous in their way struggling so hard to persuade local (and influential) governments to let them work into the `heart' of the stories being anchored, against the background of petty local political bickering and futility. It is not easy, but the beauty about it is that it is also challenging, and a source of pride to millions of Arabs

While there is much literature about Al-Jazeera available online, this book provided the most concise, elaborate, hardhitting, and balanced view of the network. The authors' position as media experts and scholars with no personal relation or investment in the network ensures a clearheaded view of the station's successes and failures. While they are generally complimentary, they are not shy from recognizing both shortcoming and weaknesses, offering remedial ideas which the station has infact started to incorporate: from discussing Qatari domestic issues to presenting moderate views. I read Al-Jazeera for a journalism class in college where we discussed the authors' concept of "contextual objectivity" at great lengths where we found it surprisingly applicable to the US media. As we appeal for professionalism in the Arab media, we should probably learn a few things ourselves from Al-Jazeera. The station is a true revolution in the Arab world and global media, and this book is the first chronicle of this revolution.

Collaboratively written by Egyptian born Middle East journalist Mohammed El-Nawawy and Middle East media expert Adel Iskandar, Al-Jazeera: How The Free Arab News Network Scooped The World And Changed The Middle East is a fascinating and informed history. This is a superbly presented account of Al-Jazeera, a modern, independent, entirely Arab television news network based in Qatar, which since the September 11 attacks, gained high profile prominence through daily exposure on CNN. This is also the compelling story of Al-Jazeera's struggle to keep its independence as an international news network, beholden to none. Overall, Al-Jazeera is an engaging, unique, detailed study of the origin of the Al-Jazeera network, its broadcasts, its effect on Arab viewers, and its struggle for a free press. Al-Jazeera is very highly recommended for Journalism Studies and Mideast Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections.

As everyone has seen Al-Jazeera logos on Western TV stations after September 11's tragegy when they played Bin Laden videos, people have yearned to know more about this controversial Arabic satellite channel. El-Nawawy & Iskandar's book is not only the first on this station, but I think is also a very balanced, comprehensive and interesting read. It covers the role of the media in the Arab World, and the view of Al-Jazeera through Western eyes. I recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the important role of media in creating democracy and better understanding the views of Arab civil society.