Al Jazeera English

Overview

Al Jazeera English is the English-language international news channel of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network. Launched on 15 November 2006, it was one of the first global English-language news channels headquartered outside the United States and Europe, and it places particular emphasis on coverage of the developing world.

History

Al Jazeera English grew out of the influential Arabic-language Al Jazeera channel, which launched in 1996 and transformed news coverage in the Arab world. The English service was built around a network of broadcasting centres in Doha, London, Washington and Kuala Lumpur, allowing it to “follow the sun” and hand off live coverage around the globe.

Programming

The channel offers rolling news, documentaries, current-affairs and investigative programming, and analysis from a network of correspondents across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. It is known for giving prominence to stories and regions often underreported by other international broadcasters.

Significance

Al Jazeera English brought a distinctive perspective to global news, broadening the range of voices in international broadcasting. Its reporting from the developing world and its award-winning documentaries have earned it a substantial international audience.