It is now an archive for my newspaper and magazine pieces. My blog can now be read at: www.spectator.co.uk/stephenpollard
Politics, economics and culture from the master. Unmissable.
Melanie Phillips home page
Melanie Phillips' peerless blog. Read, and learn.
Daniel Finkelstein's Times Comment Central
A daily must-read.
Tim Worstall
Lots of interesting nibbles - and a ruthless swatter of economic gibberish.
Harry's Place
Must-read left of centre blog from writers who understand the threat to the West.
Clive Davis
Always interesting selection of culture and politics, from an Anglo-American bent.
Samizdata
Libertarian blog, packed every day.
Norm's blog
The thoroughly sensible thoughts of renowned left-wing academic Norman Geras, Professor of Government at Manchester. And cricket, too.
Public Interest
Peter Briffa's inimitable take on The Yazzmonster and other assorted demons.
Reform
The public sector reform group; their website is an invaluable source of data and ideas.
Centre for the New Europe
The leading European public policy think tank.
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| January | 10 |
| 2007 |
Joy of joys. Via Clive Davis, here's the wonderful Al Jazeera spoof on the Daily Show. When I saw it on TV (if you don't watch it on More 4 at 8.30 you're missing funniest programme around) I laughed out loud.
Like Clive, I too watch Al Jazeera. Before it started I assumed it would be grotesque anti-Israel, anti-Western propaganda. I couldn't have been more wrong. The opinion slots are just that, but the news is by far the best coverage of the Middle East I have ever seen. Israelis are given proper air time, as are Palestinians. All sides of a story are covered. I couldn't be more impressed. And not least because it blows away any credibility the BBC might have when it claims to be objective.
UPDATE: I realise there is a big difference between the English and Arabic versions of Al Jazeera.
MessageSpace
The Al Jazeera news you see is a hell of a lot different to the Al Jazeera news that is seen by Arabs in the Middle East.
That video is hysterical. Some great potshots at U.S. TV news.
I agree, I first watched Al Jazeera English version thinking it would just bash the West and Israel, but it really isn't bad - interesting stories, a balance the BBC doesn't achieve. And they keep it moving. BBC24, CNN or Sky assume there are only two or three stories at any point of time and keep repeating them, but Al Jazeera has lots of variety.
Why not give Aljazeera English at least a few weeks before making judgements and circulating premature opinions?
One tends to agree with Sunday Times, A.A. Gill who wrote: “It’s too early to make a judgment, but its opening line-up of journalists and ’casters looked impressive…. The look is clean and professional, without all the video-game confusion of too many
sidebars and tickertape subtitles or Star Wars set.â€
In terms of size and budget with CNN and Fox News, many call Aljazeera a 'little matchbox' but, when it comes to richness of representation, diversity of opinion and plurality of views AJE appears well prepared to take on the corporate news media on its merits.
When it comes to balanced and even handed treatment of
the hot topic of the day, viewers may feel well-served by the flagship programme, Inside Issues. Another strength noted early on is the effort to cover "every angle-every side." Thus we see Shimon Peres: Deputy Prime Minister who's appearence on the channels launch proved the first drop of rain which follows almost daily feeds from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to cover Israeli opinion and views.
Take the pilot show of Amanda Palmer’s program “48″. What she and her crew have accomplished in Damascus in just 48 hours is amazing in terms of richness. They packed delicate yet diverse issues such as inter-faith harmony, women’s life, private entrepreneurs and youth culture in Damascus. It was miles ahead of what a viewer can find in a similar monthly program elsewhere (e.g. CNN’s Inside the Middle East).
Palmer's “Fabulous Picture Showâ€, is a treasure chest of what’s hot in the new media from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and beyond, surpassing BBC's Talking Movies. Other viewers will come up with many pleasant surprises if they indulge in viewing a program or two on AJE. “
It is fine to keep a watchful eye if any incorrect views or statements are aired and to take appropriate action. But gagging a channel which consists of acclaimed professionals like Dave Marash, David Frost and Steven Cole is like doubting intentions not backed by any sound evidence. The proof comes only AFTER seeing what AJE is or isn't about.