Monday, May 11, 2015

Al Jazeera in turmoil: a 'vicious' corporate 'culture of fear' at Al Jazeera America; while journalist Mohamed Fahmy in Egypt sues over 'negligence'.


Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) remains mired in scandal - rocked by backbiting, massive internal drama, vicious in-fighting and law suits - and don't forget about allegations of sexism and anti-Semitism against the Qatar-based 24-hour TV news channel.

Al Jazeera America is riddled with sexism where workers describe the atmosphere as corporate culture as vindictive.

The former Al Jazeera America video archivist Matthew Luke is suing Al Jazeera America as the news channel is unravelling in America.

The New York Times has a fascinating, must-read expose on the turmoil behind the scenes as the beleaguered TV news channel. where Al Jazeera America's CEO Ehad Al Shahibi was promptly fired from the position last week.

The British Al Anstey who helped to set up Al Jazeera English which is seen on MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's StarSat across Africa is suddenly taking over as CEO of Al Jazeera America.

Al Anstey is now going to try to be "bringing the team together" - read his internal memo to the Al Jazeera America staff.

The New York Times also has the story of respected former Al Jazeera America executive Mary McGinnis who resigned last week in protest, saying Al Jazeera America is permeated "with a culture of fear".

The news channel is "shaken" according to the Financial Times. Al Jazeera which covers others' news doesn't want to be open and tells the media it doesn't "go into personnel issues".

Al Jazeera America is in need of a complete reboot. The news channel has started firing staff, cancelled programming and is filling programming with Al Jazeera English content.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy is now suing Al Jazeera claiming negligence on the part of the TV news channel, saying Al Jazeera's negligent actions contributed to his 400-day detention in Egypt.