Page 256 - Mass Media, Mass Propoganda Examining American News in the War on Terror

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for controversial reporting, and 2. by reinforcing the neoliberal ideology that
states that media reporting, like other vital public services, exists not primarily
to educate the public (A1 Jazeera's goal), but for profit gain (the corporate me-
dia's main goal).
As A1 Jazeera attempts to expand its audience size with the introduction of
an English-language news channel, the debate over the channel's influence
amongst Western audiences will inevitably become more relevant. As the Inter-
national Herald Tribune speculates over the possibility of A1 Jazeera's English
channel: "Will the English-language service be able to persuade enough satellite
and cable services to carry it, particularly in the United States market? Will ad-
vertisers sign up, or will they prefer to steer clear of associations with A1
~azeera?"'~~ These questions are important to consider when one reflects on the
traditionally strong relationship between corporate advertisers and the corporate
press and the Bush administration. Sadly, U.S. media carriers have refused to
carry A1 Jazeera as of 2007, likely out of fear of alienating themselves from ad-
vertisers and angering the Bush administration and other American political
leaders.
The elimination or censorship of the most influential and independent news
source in the Arab world would deal a strong blow to the chances of strengthen-
ing informed opinion and debate throughout the Middle East regarding impor-
tant issues of the day. A1 Jazeera has performed a valuable service by highlight-
ing the activities of repressive Arab regimes that have often been able to skirt
public accountability.
Attacks against A1 Jazeera, at their core, are attacks against the ability of the
Arab World to openly and democratically debate the legitimacy of the U.S.
presence in the region. As Walid al-Omary, West Bank Bureau Chief of A1
Jazeera explains: the station's "biggest contribution to change in the Arab
World" has come in the form of a "broadening of the Arab perspective. Before
us, no one was saying anything about Arab leaders or Arab corruption. . . now I
believe that the Arab world is moving towards more democratic changes."'44 A1
Jazeera's goal, as the old adage goes, is to remind its viewers of the power of
knowledge. By equipping its viewers with the information needed to challenge
and question government, A1 Jazeera has performed a vital service. The negative
repercussions of attempts to eliminate the network will be felt for years to come,
should such efforts succeed.

Notes

1. Bill Gallagher, "Bush Lies, Propaganda Falling Flat," Common Dreams, 10 Janu-
ary 2006, http://www.comrnondreams.org/views06/0110-36.htm May 2006).
(3
2. Chadwick F. Alger, "The World Relations of Cities: Closing the Gap between
Social Science Paradigms and Everyday Human Experience," International Studies
Quarterly, 34 (1990), 493-518.
3. Sarah Lyall, "Death Brings Demand for Public Inquiry," New York Times, 18 Au-
gust 2003,11(A).