* most news networks in the middle east are state-run (and very obviously oppressive with heavy censorship), however AJ operates distinctly independently
* as such people in the middle east are exposed to news they wouldn't normally be exposed to, for example controversial news stories or other news stories that require strict objectivity
* western news networks are increasingly rebroadcasting AJ footage, most interestingly because AJ acquires exclusive interviews that other news networks aren't privy to
* AJ provides live feeds of their news channel for free online
* they are growing, and have plans to offer[1] Turkish (Turkey), Spanish (Latin American), and Urdu (Pakistani) channels
Not being state run does not mean it is not under the influences of the state and the position its leaders take.
"First, it is home to al-Jazeera, the Arabic-language news network that has transformed how Arabs get their news. Many give the television channel more credit for spurring on the Arab Spring than Facebook or Twitter. By bringing the revolutions into the homes of every Arab, al-Jazeera drew regional attention to early events in Tunisia and helped boost the number of Egyptians on the streets from the thousands to the hundreds of thousands. Al-Jazeera gives Qatar “soft power” well beyond its size."[0]
Kinda like the history between the CIA and many news organizations that "operate distinctly independently".[1]
The bias of Fox News and the NYT are easy for Americans to see, because they both have an slant that impacts US domestic policy. Just because Al Jazeera doesn't have such a slant does not mean it is not biased.
Bingo, they are heavily influenced by Qatar. Influences of which help to promote the Khalifah's view points, some of which are in lock step with american foreign policy... though they play on both sides of the fences just as well as any other nation state.
They were originally a branch office of the BBC who decided to go independent when they were closed due to embarrassing the Saudi government. The embarrassment had to do with a documentary about Sharia law executions in that country. The BBC backed down, but the reporters didn't.
I don't care what country's government you are from, would you like to make it easy for reporters like that to get into your country? ;-)
