evil corporations in action, al jazeera, dave marash, tv

Al Jazeera Too Araby For American Anchor

The top American anchor on Al Jazeera English left the controversial Qatar-based news network because, he said, the whole thing was getting a little too Middle Eastern. According to the Times, "headquarters in Doha provided more and more direction about the assignment of stories and the point of view... the English-language channel started to more closely resemble its larger sibling, the prominent Arabic-language channel Al Jazeera, he said." Americans and Brits have been upset about funding and alleged political interference for months. Things looked much different two years ago, when the anchor, Dave Marash, braved Stephen Colbert's show to champion the channel, arguing that Al Jazeera's English-language channel was virtually autonomous from the Arabic channel in Qatar:

See also this video of Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee's Fox-style makeover of Al Jazeera English.

12:46 AM on Fri Mar 28 2008
By Ryan Tate
1,335 views
8 comments

Comments

onebadclam at 12:53 AM on 03/28/08
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Did you hear that, Wall Street Journal?
TedSez at 01:16 AM on 03/28/08
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Connectedness Index: 583

According to this article, it was actually to Britishy for him:

[news.yahoo.com]

NEW YORK - Former "Nightline" reporter Dave Marash has quit Al-Jazeera English, saying Thursday his exit was due in part to an anti-American bias at a network that is little seen in this country.

Marash said he felt that attitude more from British administrators than Arabs at the Qatar-based network.

And also too flashy:

Marash said there are other reasons for his exit. He said the network has quickened the pace of its broadcast instead of having the slower, more reflective tone that he had expected.
TedSez at 01:17 AM on 03/28/08
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@TedSez: ...too Britishy...
Bell County at 01:23 AM on 03/28/08
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@TedSez: You know, for some reason when the word "Britishy" is typed out like that, it looks like you're drunk.
TedSez at 01:36 AM on 03/28/08
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@Bell County: Nah, I haven't been drunk for hours.
donmiguel at 05:27 AM on 03/28/08
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Does anyone else think of the word jism every time you hear the word Al-Jazeera? No? Ok. Thanks and good night!
blix at 09:59 AM on 03/28/08
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@donmiguel: not until I read that comment. Now I'll have more unexplained giggling.
Hockeymom at 10:22 AM on 03/28/08
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Dave Marash is a great, old-school, story-teller.
I suspect he wanted to preside over long, thoughtful pieces that presented multiple sides of every story. And that's probably what he was promised when he took the job.

The network probably wanted short, catchy stories, ripped out of the purple section of whatever is USA Today in the Arab world.

I also suspect that Dave wasn't bringing in the right demo (insert politically incorrect joke about what that demo may actually be)...basically people with disposable income who ain't old.

Somebody sent me a copy of the newscast a long time ago. His co-anchor was stunning. One of the most striking women I've seen on TV. If I was feeling slightly servicy, I'd find a link, but I'm lazy this morning. He looked like her grandpa sitting next to her. I'm sure he'll be replaced with someone younger.

Finally, Samatha Bee kills me.