The second milestone was Qatar Television, where I contributed in a limited capacity to the news bulletins. There, we first experimented with satellite broadcast. I had the first overseas interview with the head of the Library of Congress in Washington DC. One other major development was relatively personal. It was when I joined the BBC, where I gained first-hand knowledge of the most advanced broadcasting technologies. I was then selected for a television presenting course, the first ever in the Arabic language. At that moment, I started to dream of the first news-dedicated channel in the Arab region. At that time, Qatar abolished the Information Ministry as a step towards freeing the media from any shackles. Another encouraging move was the offering of the costly BBC service to the residents of Qatar for free.
Time and subsequent events within the region have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Qatar was the best possible place for the news channel to be launched. From day one, Al Jazeera has made shockwaves all across the region. Credibility, professionalism, and objectivity were the key factors. Over the past twenty-five years, Al Jazeera has - every single day - cemented its position as a leader in the global media landscape. When I reflect and see the massive impact Al Jazeera has across the world, I realise that original idea behind it was nothing short of divine.
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