tates. We had no tools to repel such pressures apart from our editorial line and our journalistic professional standards” (1) .
6. Al Jazeera Investigative Programmes and Remote Pressure Techniques
The above examples clearly show the level of pressure Al Jazeera faces in some countries where power and influence are distributed among state and non-state actors. Those examples prove how capable Al Jazeera has been in standing up to those challenges and moving for- ward with its mission of covering events according to its editorial stan- dards, despite the various pressures from competing powers and deci- sion-making actors. However, the continuous challenge Al Jazeera has represented to all forms of power is not limited to diversifying its field reporting styles. It also involved diversifying its news and programme content. Al Jazeera’s investigative programmes broadcast by its news channels have assumed a great role in that respect. Like the many pres- sures and obstacles faced by the Network’s correspondents worldwide to discourage them from reporting events freely and professionally, the crews of investigative programmes have also faced similar difficulties that culminated in threats, intimidation and defamation. Some of those threats originated from fake social media accounts, and members of the investigative unit sustained recurring phone hacking attempts. Some of them also received warnings against travelling to certain countries and threats of physical attack. (2) Notably, the entities those programmes investigated, adopted new techniques to override the geographic obsta- cles. Not all producing crews of investigative programmes are residents of the countries concerned. Such hindering techniques include: - Psychologically terrorising journalists and producers of investi- gative programmes, whether through direct threats of killing or through organised campaigns on social media.
(1) Ibid.
(2) Tamer Almisshal, presenter of “ The Hidden is More Immense ” investigative programme, email interview, 25 February 2021.
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