In the mid 1990s, the emir of Qatar conceived the idea of a satellite channel that would further the progressive image he hoped to establish for his small Arabian/Persian Gulf state. At the same time, a short-lived partnership between the BBC and a Saudi company had left a handful of BBC-trained Arab journalists and broadcasters up for grabs. That was the inception of Al Jazeera--a satellite channel which changed forever the face of Arab broadcasting with its uncensored news and bold talk show programs. The September 11 attacks on the United States and the war on terrorism vaulted Al Jazeera to international prominence but also turned it into a source of controversy. Despite the controversy--or perhaps in part because of it--in less than a decade the channel has transformed itself from an obscure regional news broadcaster to a multi-channel, multi-lingual, multi-service global enterprise.
This book's in-depth look at Al Jazeera examines whether its global success reflects particular organizational strengths. It explores whether Al Jazeera is merely a fad thriving on the thirst for free speech in the Middle East, or a new medium whose success will be sustained by its organizational culture and model. This work delves deep into the culture, workings and challenges of this powerful media organization to provide insights on its achievements, its future, and the true measure of its success.

Mohamed Zayani is an associate professor of critical theory at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar and author of Networked Publics and Digital Contention. Sofiane Sahraouiis an associate professor of management information systems at the American University of Sharjah, UAE, and a research fellow at the University of Brunel, UK.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments     

Preface     

Introduction     


I. An Unconventional Media Player     

II. Critical Success Factors     

III. In Search of a Core Capability     

IV. Unraveling the Business Model     

V. Values and Beliefs     

VI. The Power Game     

VII. The People Organization     

VIII. Beyond Money     

IX. The Knowledge Imperative     

X. Al Jazeera at the Crossroads     

XI. Surviving Change     

XII. Innovation and Expansion     

XIII. The Road Ahead     


Chapter Notes     

Bibliography     

Index