When Al Jazeera misused its freedom
Asociety which allows freedom of speech is a strong and developed one. A free media and maintaining continuity are fundamental rights in such a society. But when media manipulates the freedom to achieve an agenda, creates a divide and foments unrest in society, and when there are solid evidences to prove this, then a stand needs to be taken.
Codes of conduct to govern such institutions normally exist in developed societies. And press unions direct channels that fall outside professional ranks. It should be remembered that freedom of opinion comes with responsibilities. There are consequences to be faced, follow ups, and investigations to be done to prove that there is no fabrication of truth.
But such allegations have now been placed against Al Jazeera TV by the world media. The channel’s work and coverage of events in Arab countries especially during the Arab spring garnered a lot of criticism. And the urgent need to protect people from this channel and from the wrong information it was spreading was felt.
This is precisely what the US government did. It banned Al Jazeera’s English channel from obtaining a permit to run the cable system on its land, a system that operates in the US and reaches over 120 million homes. Al Jazeera went a step ahead and bought Current TV channels for $500 million … but all in vain.
Free societies often direct media through their
The channel has not telecast any candid reports on the domestic affairs of Qatar. It has not reported even the major events that happen in Qatar
press syndicates thus maintaining a balance. But this fact seems to be evading the Qatari society. The nation has failed to establish civil societies that deal with journalists and media professionals.
Further, Al Jazeera TV has not telecast any candid reports on the domestic affairs of Qatar. Come to think of it, the channel has not reported even the major events that happen in Qatar. Al Jazeera English, which is slightly different from its Arabic version, caters to every need of its Western viewers. The channel provides them with the entertainment they look for. But it also makes sure that the channel’s viewpoints are telecast, though in a veiled manner. It smartly twists information with support from Al Jazeera Documentary TV Channel, a channel which, in any case, cannot be relied on, for they are known to distorts facts.
In reality, Al Jazeera TV colours the way the West looks at the Arab world. The channel very intelligently works on changing the views of the Western world with regards to the Arab world. And this is done in a subtle manner with the help of a large study centre.
Have we wondered why countries boycotting Qatar are not protesting against free TV channels — even international ones with an Arab version — although their reports often slam the regimes and governments of the Arab countries? Well, sometimes, the frankness of these channels are accepted and welcomed, especially since some of them consider our land as their regional headquarters.