Kuala Lumpur Calling: Al Jazeera English in Asia
Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based, Arabic-language satellite news channel, is arguably one of the Middle East’s—and the world’s— most influential news sources. Established in 1996, Al Jazeera is credited with defying media censorship and expanding the margin of press freedoms across the Middle East. Though it receives much of its funding from the emir of Qatar, the station has been widely recognized as an independent news voice in the Middle East. Many communications analysts also believe that the channel’s broadcasts—particularly those depicting Arab and Muslim suffering around the world—have shaped public opinion on a variety of issues, especially U.S. foreign policies.
About the Author
Indo-Pacific Program
The Indo-Pacific Program promotes policy debate and intellectual discussions on US interests in the Asia-Pacific as well as political, economic, security, and social issues relating to the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region. Read more