AJ 25th Book_Eng_digital

Al Jazeera: Ripe But Ageless Tariq Dodic | Managing Director, Al Jazeera Balkans

It was late October 2011 and we were gearing up to start broadcasting Al Jazeera Balkans. At the same time, our mother company, Al Jazeera Media Network, was preparing to celebrate 15 years of their successful operations. We were almost there in terms of the editorial team and journalists, but technically we needed at least a few more days. I came up with an explanation for my managers in Doha that, if that short extension was approved, it would also be useful for marketing purposes. This was because we proposed that the new commencement date be November 11, 2011, or 11-11-11 – six number ones for a happy start. They

happily approved it, so on that date we became part of, allow me to be subjective, the largest media network in the world: AJMN. Twenty-five years of Al Jazeera and 10 years of Al Jazeera Balkans is a great occasion to reminisce briefly, but only briefly, about what we have done – in order that we may move forward with even greater zeal in being the voice of the voiceless. Being a credible international media organisation is a difficult task, which requires hard work minute by minute, day by day, and year by year, in order to see the result through the decades. And that result

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