Arab Satellite News Journalism - The Al Jazeera Effect

 

This paper will be about the potential impact of satellite-based news and current affairs channel such as Al Jazeera, Abu Dhabi TV of Al-Arabyia. It will examine the specific programming and journalistic practices in comparison to both, the national state-broadcasters and transnational news providers, that have defined the scene before the arrival of these newcomers. That is, I will question whether these channels represent a decisive break with the national Arabic and transnational, Anglo-American points of view, predominant so far, including the eventual possibility of a negotiation between these often antagonistic positions. Finally, the US administration's recent attempt to strengthen its discursive power in the Middle East, by investing heavily in the field of electronic communication, will be considered through an critical examination of  Alhurra.