CN
cnnfan1230
One minute protest 24 hours after the verdict:
One minute silence by BBC Al Jazeera and other networks - exactly 24 hours after sentence handed down #ajtrial pic.twitter.com/3wZRUW933e
— Sherine Tadros (@SherineT) June 24, 2014
KM
The 8 most bizarre pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution, courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald:
1. A BBC Documentary by Peter Greste about Somalia and Kenya
2. Footage of a press conference in Kenya following the Westgate Mall attacks
3. A clearly photoshopped image of one of the accused with a Mubarak ally
4. Image of a traffic jam on a bridge
5. A series of photographs from Peter Greste's parent's holiday in Germany and Latvia
6. A documentary about soccer in Egypt produced by Greste for Al-Jazeera
7. Footage of sheep farming
8. A Gotye music video on a mobile phone of unknown ownership, programmed in Arabic
http://www.gjel.com/01new/media/simpsons-lionel-hutz.jpg
1. A BBC Documentary by Peter Greste about Somalia and Kenya
2. Footage of a press conference in Kenya following the Westgate Mall attacks
3. A clearly photoshopped image of one of the accused with a Mubarak ally
4. Image of a traffic jam on a bridge
5. A series of photographs from Peter Greste's parent's holiday in Germany and Latvia
6. A documentary about soccer in Egypt produced by Greste for Al-Jazeera
7. Footage of sheep farming
8. A Gotye music video on a mobile phone of unknown ownership, programmed in Arabic
http://www.gjel.com/01new/media/simpsons-lionel-hutz.jpg
SE
Almost a year on, I'm incredibly impressed with Al Jazeera America. Apparently all the news bulletins are live, even into the night, which is a refreshing change from CNN, MSNBC, and FOX, which essentially end live broadcasts by 11pm.
I've also noticed that they have recently updated the look of the primetime newscasts, away from the dull teal to a really attractive nighttime satellite look. They are also using minimalist OTSs that blend in with the backdrop as well, but I don't have a capture. I really hope they get more viewers, it's honestly the most authoritative and sedate American news channel
Before:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_570x321/2013/08/al_jazeera_news_room_h_2013.jpg
After:
I've also noticed that they have recently updated the look of the primetime newscasts, away from the dull teal to a really attractive nighttime satellite look. They are also using minimalist OTSs that blend in with the backdrop as well, but I don't have a capture. I really hope they get more viewers, it's honestly the most authoritative and sedate American news channel
Before:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_570x321/2013/08/al_jazeera_news_room_h_2013.jpg
After:
CH
I watch it everyday. I may be one of the few though. I used to normally watch an unhealthy dose of CNN, both Domestic and International, though it is unbelievable how unwatchable CNN/USA became the minute Jeff Zucker came to the network, and CNNI isn't worth the pain in trying to find webstreams that work over here anymore. Fox isn't an option, and MSNBC is great as long as you're not looking for news, so the only options I have for 24 hour news are AJAM and BBC World. I happily fork over an extra $10/month to the Comcast empire just to get those two in 4:3 standard definition feeds.
It's a good network and a breath of fresh air compared to all the junk that's on the aforementioned US channels, though it's pretty clear that they rushed it to air and will take a few years before it will be a solid competitor. It still doesn't feel as polished as AJE did after it launched, though I suppose they didn't want to waste any time between buying the air space and launching a network, especially considering how politically charged their brand is here. Perhaps they were afraid that they would have run into more roadblocks if they had taken more time setting everything up.
In terms of content, I'd say it's pretty close to what an NPR news channel would be. They have ramped up their coverage of the U.S., and they do focus on a lot of stories that deserve more attention than what the traditional TV outlets give. The one downside to this is that it can seem a bit repetitive seeing the same themes of marijuana legalization, immigration, gay rights, and income inequality in all their investigative reports week in, week out. It also doesn't quite seem to have the same bite and sophistication that AJE has, which is what a lot of critics were worried about. I don't think it's as big of a problem as it was made out to be, but it's not as sharp in attacking the status quo and the power structures of U.S. government as it could be. The website usually has a lot of great long reads.
International coverage is understandably far better than everything else in the U.S. There are a lot of packages and live reports, especially from the Middle East more than anywhere else, even in the AJAM newscasts. It's not uncommon for the lead story to be from Syria or Iraq rather than something domestic. I think I may have said this here before, but it seems like they cut down a little bit on AJAM-produced newscasts since the launch and have replaced them with more AJE simulcasts and reruns. I think everything from midnight-7am ET are either reruns or AJE simulcasts, and there seem to be quite a few hours of AJE simulcasts during the day, too. I'm surprised that they're still around, as I thought the eventual goal was that AJAM would produce all their hours themselves, though clearly that won't happen for some time. I'm not complaining.
In terms of all the other stuff, again, they rushed it to air. I think the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. The idents and opens are great, and the main New York set is nice, but everything else is a mishmash that's either okay looking, such as the lower thirds, to disgusting, such as the other three sets and teal-yellow-black graphics. As Seamus showed above, they've started to experiment with some of the presentation, most noticeably with the primetime news hours. They've moved to having the newswall be just a backdrop, while stories are introduced with over the shoulder graphics (very American). Even in the dayside hours, stories will be introduced on the newswall with OTS-like graphics with the story in a small box and a headline with a plain blue pattern filling the other 90% of the newswall. I really don't like that they've started to do this instead of filling the gigantic newswall with images like AJE. It looks very American and cheap, if you ask me. The anchors are pretty good with the exception of Libby Casey, and they could use some more hires. I feel like I keep seeing the same faces on it every time I tune in.
That's my overall assessment almost one year in. It doesn't seem like they've made a lot of headway in carving out a viewer base of their own, though they might in time. I'd say that AJAM is B-quality work from an A student. It's not a disappointment, but I expected a little more from Al Jazeera in launching a US network.
Is anyone watching AJA? I've heard nowt about it in news or industry rags since the initial buzz about its launch.
I watch it everyday. I may be one of the few though. I used to normally watch an unhealthy dose of CNN, both Domestic and International, though it is unbelievable how unwatchable CNN/USA became the minute Jeff Zucker came to the network, and CNNI isn't worth the pain in trying to find webstreams that work over here anymore. Fox isn't an option, and MSNBC is great as long as you're not looking for news, so the only options I have for 24 hour news are AJAM and BBC World. I happily fork over an extra $10/month to the Comcast empire just to get those two in 4:3 standard definition feeds.
It's a good network and a breath of fresh air compared to all the junk that's on the aforementioned US channels, though it's pretty clear that they rushed it to air and will take a few years before it will be a solid competitor. It still doesn't feel as polished as AJE did after it launched, though I suppose they didn't want to waste any time between buying the air space and launching a network, especially considering how politically charged their brand is here. Perhaps they were afraid that they would have run into more roadblocks if they had taken more time setting everything up.
In terms of content, I'd say it's pretty close to what an NPR news channel would be. They have ramped up their coverage of the U.S., and they do focus on a lot of stories that deserve more attention than what the traditional TV outlets give. The one downside to this is that it can seem a bit repetitive seeing the same themes of marijuana legalization, immigration, gay rights, and income inequality in all their investigative reports week in, week out. It also doesn't quite seem to have the same bite and sophistication that AJE has, which is what a lot of critics were worried about. I don't think it's as big of a problem as it was made out to be, but it's not as sharp in attacking the status quo and the power structures of U.S. government as it could be. The website usually has a lot of great long reads.
International coverage is understandably far better than everything else in the U.S. There are a lot of packages and live reports, especially from the Middle East more than anywhere else, even in the AJAM newscasts. It's not uncommon for the lead story to be from Syria or Iraq rather than something domestic. I think I may have said this here before, but it seems like they cut down a little bit on AJAM-produced newscasts since the launch and have replaced them with more AJE simulcasts and reruns. I think everything from midnight-7am ET are either reruns or AJE simulcasts, and there seem to be quite a few hours of AJE simulcasts during the day, too. I'm surprised that they're still around, as I thought the eventual goal was that AJAM would produce all their hours themselves, though clearly that won't happen for some time. I'm not complaining.
In terms of all the other stuff, again, they rushed it to air. I think the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. The idents and opens are great, and the main New York set is nice, but everything else is a mishmash that's either okay looking, such as the lower thirds, to disgusting, such as the other three sets and teal-yellow-black graphics. As Seamus showed above, they've started to experiment with some of the presentation, most noticeably with the primetime news hours. They've moved to having the newswall be just a backdrop, while stories are introduced with over the shoulder graphics (very American). Even in the dayside hours, stories will be introduced on the newswall with OTS-like graphics with the story in a small box and a headline with a plain blue pattern filling the other 90% of the newswall. I really don't like that they've started to do this instead of filling the gigantic newswall with images like AJE. It looks very American and cheap, if you ask me. The anchors are pretty good with the exception of Libby Casey, and they could use some more hires. I feel like I keep seeing the same faces on it every time I tune in.
That's my overall assessment almost one year in. It doesn't seem like they've made a lot of headway in carving out a viewer base of their own, though they might in time. I'd say that AJAM is B-quality work from an A student. It's not a disappointment, but I expected a little more from Al Jazeera in launching a US network.
TM
Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere, but ITN staff from across ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News have posed for this photograph today in support of colleagues from Al Jazeera:
http://www.retelevise.com/external/10494807_519578054853805_4681623715973243699_n.jpg
I know other media organisations have done something similar as well ...
http://www.retelevise.com/external/10494807_519578054853805_4681623715973243699_n.jpg
I know other media organisations have done something similar as well ...
CH
At the start of the Newshour on AJE, instead of flashing "NEWSHOUR" on the video wall in Doha, they've replaced it with "#FREEAJSTAFF." It's pretty cool to see that on the gigantic video wall in that gigantic newsroom, though it's also a sad reminder that the terrible and illegitimate regime in Egypt is still keeping a bunch of innocent journalists in prison indefinitely.
HB
I'm sure I have actually seen that on the video wall before at the start of the newshour, not sure whether it is used for the intro of every newshour, but I think it was a Sunday also when the hashtag replaced the newshour title
At the start of the Newshour on AJE, instead of flashing "NEWSHOUR" on the video wall in Doha, they've replaced it with "#FREEAJSTAFF." It's pretty cool to see that on the gigantic video wall in that gigantic newsroom, though it's also a sad reminder that the terrible and illegitimate regime in Egypt is still keeping a bunch of innocent journalists in prison indefinitely.
I'm sure I have actually seen that on the video wall before at the start of the newshour, not sure whether it is used for the intro of every newshour, but I think it was a Sunday also when the hashtag replaced the newshour title