Senior Al-Jazeera Staff Quit English Service

Al-Jazeera English, the global news channel launched as a sibling to the Arab-language service, has suffered its most high profile defections yet amid growing unease among staff about its future.

Steve Clark, a former senior executive at ITN and Sky News and a driving force behind the launch of al-Jazeera English, resigned at the end of last week while David Marash, a former CBS Nightline presenter who was the senior anchor in Washington, has also quit.

Insiders say more than 15 staff have quit or resigned in recent months amid complaints of a lack of clarity over its direction, contractual disputes and speculation over a relaunch later this year.

Clark was a key figure in the long delayed launch of al-Jazeera English in November 2006, with an ambitious mission to challenge the dominance of CNN and the BBC with an “alternative worldview”.

Al Anstey, another former ITN executive who has been promoted to replace Clark, sent an email to staff announcing the departure at the end of last week.

Its output has been praised for its professionalism, shining a spotlight on areas of the world ill-served by existing news operations. But rumours of a split with senior management at the original network of al-Jazeera channels, which rose to global prominence in the aftermath of September 11, have persisted.

The English version is available in more than 100m households in 60 countries. It is still not carried by any of the major cable providers in the US but is available via broadband. It has not provided viewing figures for the UK but they are unlikely to peak at anything more than a few thousand people.

In an email to staff, Clark paid tribute to his colleagues, saying his resignation had been a difficult decision. “We have redefined international news coverage with our dynamic emphasis on the developing world. Our analysis of events in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East has been an editorial triumph.”

Using the latest technology, 500 staff and 18 bureaux around the world, Al Jazeera English made a string of big name signings. They included Sir David Frost, who interviewed Tony Blair in the opening week, Rageh Omaar and Stephen Cole. It has no central base but broadcasts from four locations - Doha, London, Washington and Kuala Lumpur - in an attempt to “follow the sun” with its coverage.

Insiders say Clark’s departure was expected after his wife, Jo Burgin, the former head of planning at al-Jazeera English, launched a claim for sex, race and religious discrimination. It is expected to be heard in the next two to three months.

But they said it was a further example of the disharmony that has gripped the broadcaster, particularly in Doha, since its launch. Even before it launched, there was a split between the management of the original channels, launched in 1996 and funded by the emir of Qatar, and the new international version.

Facing competition from the new BBC World Service Arab language channel and other rivals, they are believed to want to see resources concentrated on consolidating popularity among its heartland audience.

Al-Jazeera refused to comment.

– By Owen Gibson

Popularity: 1% [?]

Actually this will be a good opportunity for a shining beacon to be placed on Al Jazeera, all its strengths and warts.

I would add Al Jazeera English and many TV and radio channels from other countries are available for FREE in the US on DVB satellite. It seems relatively few people know about this.

Also on the satellite there is a fairly new English language news channel called “Press TV” that is funded by Iran. Saudi Arabia also has a new English language channel with a variety of programs.

A small KU dish and DVB receiver can be purchased starting around $200, these are popular in many countries but have not caught on in mass scale in the US for some reason. The largest collection of channels here are on one satellite at 97 degrees west, so you can point your dish to one satellite and get a lot without the need for a motor to move the dish.

Here is one site with channel lists: http://www.ftalist.com/channels.htm

I have no affiliation with this or any other site, I’m just a viewer, I purchased my system just before the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003 and was able to watch Iraq TV before it shut down, and many other channels in the region, I just wish I knew the languages.