Native name | شبكة الجزيرة الاعلامية |
---|---|
Company type | Private foundation for public benefit |
Industry | Mass media |
Founded | 1 November 1996 |
Founder | Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani |
Headquarters | Qatar Radio and Television Corporation Complex, , Qatar |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
Products | news broadcasting, web portal |
Number of employees | 3,000 |
Subsidiaries | Al Jazeera Arabic Al Jazeera English Al Jazeera Mubasher Al Jazeera Balkans Al Jazeera Türk Al Jazeera Documentary AJ+ Al Jazeera Podcasts Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival |
Website | network |
Footnotes / references [2][3][4][5][6][7] |
Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN; Arabic: الجزيرة, romanized: Al-Jazīrah, lit. 'The Island' [æl (d)ʒæˈziːrɐ]) is a private-media conglomerate headquartered in Wadi Al Sail, Doha,[3][4] funded in part by the government of Qatar. The network's flagship channels include Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, which provide coverage of regional and international news, along with analysis, documentaries, and talk shows. In addition to its television channels, Al Jazeera has expanded its digital presence with platforms such as AJ+, catering to younger audiences with formats and content tailored for online consumption. Al Jazeera broadcasts in over 150 countries and territories, and has a large global audience of over 430 million people.[8]
Originally conceived as a satellite TV channel delivering Arabic news and current affairs, it has since evolved into a multifaceted media network encompassing various platforms such as online, specialized television channels in numerous languages, and more. The network's news operation currently has 70 bureaus around the world that are shared between the network's channels and operations, making it one of the largest collections of bureaus among media companies globally.[7]
AJMN receives public funding from the Qatar government, which has led to disputes over whether the organization should be considered a public broadcaster[9] or state media.[10] Despite allegations that the government of Qatar has editorial control over its content,[11][12][13] AJMN maintains that "its reporting is not directed or controlled by the Qatari government nor does it reflect any government viewpoint."[14] The network has often been targeted by foreign governments that dispute the legitimacy of its coverage.[15][16][17] During the Qatar diplomatic crisis, several Arab countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade. One of their demands was the closure of Al Jazeera.[18] Other media networks have spoken out against this demand.[19]
Al Jazeera Media Network responded in a statement to the Washington Examiner, claiming that Al Jazeera "is not owned by Qatar" and that "its reporting is not directed or controlled by the Qatari government nor does it reflect any government viewpoint."