Al Jazeera: A Unique Path
Some of the stories recounted in this book are known to us, and time has come for them to be known to all, in order for them to stand – as they did to us - as an inspiration to fellow journalists and all those who champion the cause of freedom. Other equally-valuable and inspirational stories were not included in the book, either because their tellers have left our world, or did not have the chance to, or simply because these stories undermine the safety of some of those living under the brunt of authoritarian regimes which are enemies to freedom of expression. Al Jazeera has courageously survived against all odds. This would not have been possible without the unshakable faith of its journalists and their commitment to its unbiased approach: “the opinion and the other opinion.” Today, we present this book not only to commemorate some of the success stories of our journalists, but also to renew our pledge to our audience worldwide: “as we have remained steadfast to our human values for a quarter of a century, we will – God willing - remain committed for decades to come.”
Al Jazeera: A Unique Path Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al-Thani | Chairman of the Board
Like a single ray of light amid a vast darkness, Al Jazeera was born into the global media landscape a quarter of a century ago. Year after year, Al Jazeera has reached into more countries, speaking to different peoples in their various tongues. It became the most prominent phenomenon in the media industry in the early decades of the new century. Al Jazeera’s journey to success was not short or easy; nor was the road strewn with roses. From day one, Al Jazeera’s objective coverage enraged many; and as a result, it was not only demonised, but it was also attacked with many false accusations.
Al Jazeera’s offices were raided and, on some occasions, bombarded; its journalists were arbitrarily arrested and faced kangaroo court trials; and some were killed in the line of duty. With undented resolve, Al Jazeera has for 25 years braved the storm. All the way through, the key to Al Jazeera’s triumph has been: a journalist telling the story with humanity, in depth and with balance. As a result, the audience found their calling in Al Jazeera, which has become their main source of accurate information, their main means to knowledge and their main channel to freedom of expression.
This book is simply the tip of the iceberg; as it offers snippets of a rich legacy in the Arab and global arena, and one of the most successful media enterprises in the Arab region by all measures. What makes this book special is that what it contains goes beyond the personal narrative – it is a summary of the interaction between Al Jazeera’s journalists and their surroundings as they cover the unfolding events. It is the product of a pure human experience from a unique perspective. It is an exclusive replay of this period in modern history.
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