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Abstract
This paper aims to identify the similarities and differences between Al-Jazeera English (AJE) and Al-Jazeera Arabic (AJA) according to their representation by country and region on the one hand and story placement and story type on the other. Particular attention is given to the Arab countries and the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The study analyzes the content of the main evening (KSA time) news bulletins of the two channels over a six-month period (November 2006 - May 2007), in which 477 news stories are examined. The newscasts of AJE and AJA are analyzed over two rolling weeks and two constructed weeks.
Introduction
Al-Jazeera International [English] wants nothing less than to break the Western monopoly on the telling of history, by expanding the spectrum of perspectives participating in English language discussion of world issues. [It] aspires instead to create a global channel with a target audience of the plane's English speakers. (Malek, 2006, p.11).
AJE is thought to have the capacity to reach 100 million households worldwide in 60 countries (Gibson, 2007; Mio TV, 2008). In less than two years, the viewership of AJE has reached 110 million households (MySinchew, July 30, 2008). Its targeted audience is large and diverse across continents including Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East (Hanely, 2007, pp. 24-25).
AJE is described as the "New United Nations," where journalists from over 50 nations are brought together. It is supported by an "open budget." In addition, it broadcasts from an Arab Muslim country and claim to have a focus on the developing countries.
Changing the news agenda, expanding the audience choices, revolutionizing the international news, breaking the Western hegemony of international news production, adding a new perspective to global events, challenging the West or changing the direction of the flow of international news, and many other roles were assigned to AJE even before its launch on November 15, 2006. Its officials, journalists and many observers and commentators have various opinions and expectations concerning the new channel.
In AJE's statement and motto, the channel's officials illustrate their intention of "setting the news agenda." AJE was launched with the message "global media has [sic] changed forever" (El Naggar, November 16, 2007). Nigel Parsons, the...