The anti-American bias at Al Jazeera English became “so stereotypical, so reflexive” that former “Nightline” reporter David Marash quit his job with the Qatar-based channel, in part over that attitude. What was even more interesting was Marash's assertion that the anti-American attitude came more from the British administrators than the Arabs at AJE.
In a March 27 article, AP television writer David Bauder reported the situation that made the award-winning reporter quit (all bold mine):
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.
Marash was the highest-profile American TV personality hired when the English language affiliate to Al-Jazeera was started two years ago in an attempt to compete with CNN and the BBC. He said there was a "reflexive adversarial editorial stance" against Americans at Al-Jazeera English.
"Given the global feelings about the Bush administration, it's not surprising," Marash said.
But he found it "became so stereotypical, so reflexive" that he got angry.
Marash, who's being replaced by former CNN International host Shihab Rattansi, said he was the last American-accented anchor at the network, which broadcasts from Washington, London, Kuala Lumpur and Doha, Qatar. He said there are more Canadians than Americans working at the Washington office.
I doubt Marash is among the 6% of American journalists who are conservative, and he surely went to work for AJE knowing the complaints of bias against parent network Al Jazeera. He has defended the channel's editorial views in the past and is no stranger to criticizing the US. How bad did the anti-Americanism have to become for a reporter like Marsh to not only get angry but quit and go public?
When a typical US journalist even acknowledges the anti-American bias even exists in a newsroom, then you know it must be really bad at Al Jazeera English.
Marash's claim that the anti-Americanism at AJE is more from the British than the Arabs shouldn't be that surprising either. Many BBC employees have ended up at Al Jazeera and AJE. The British media are not generally known for positive portrayals of America and have a history of anti-US bias. It says quite a bit about the state of British journalism that it is totally believable that British administrators at Al Jazeera English were a greater source of anti-Americanism than the channel's Arab journalists.
Good for Marash for exposing this unacceptable newsroom behavior and editorial direction. I can't imagine this kind of attitude and institutional bias being accepted for any other country—other than Israel, of course.
Although highly unlikely, maybe this revelation will shine a light on the anti-US bias at Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English.
Lynn contributes to NewsBusters and can be reached at tvisgoodforyou2-at-y a h o o-dot-c o m
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Casablanca (1942)
March 28, 2008 - 12:52 ET by Joe C.Captain Renault:
I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier:
Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault:
[sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
This doesn't happen often...
March 28, 2008 - 12:49 ET by sarcasmoBut it would be fascinating if one of their remaining English speakers came here and gave a reaction to the resignation.
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
BBC staffed al-Jezeera...
March 28, 2008 - 13:35 ET by Jack BauerBBC's MALIGN JEW HATING INFLUENCE TRAVELS WELL...
As diligent watchers know, the BBC is so anti-Jewish (that's right anti-Jewish, apologists, not the weasel anti-"zionist") it long ceased to be comical.
And being anti-American, well that comes with the standard BBC terms of employment and contract.
As we all know, the mentally unbalanced al-Lie-zeera was formed by these wonderful BBC folk for whom the BBC wasn't quite anti-Jew enough. Backed by corrupt Arab governments.
Now even the final American accented news reporter has finally decided he can't take any more of those stiff upper twits who run that channel out of London.
Well good for
March 28, 2008 - 13:39 ET by bigtimerWell good for Marash..frankly I am rather shocked...pleased, but shocked...maybe even some leftists have a few brains cells left and pride in our country...'bout time.
Thanks Lynn for the news regarding this...I remember when it was reported here about him going to work for Al Jazeera...which I was angry about back then, not surprised, but angry nevertheless...sure wouldn't of heard about any of this unless you posted it.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Bias?
March 28, 2008 - 13:40 ET by ammo johnWhen AJE was getting started, I remember hearing their new news people talking about how it will be different from regular Al Jazeera. You know, "honest reporting". I doubted it then, and now I see nothing has changed. I'm just surprised that our 'friends' the Brits dislike (hate?) us this bad.
As much as they hate
March 28, 2008 - 14:06 ET by ConservativeRexAs much as they hate America at the BBC, when you just can't hate America enough, you go to Al Jazeera.
It makes no difference if it is Al jazzera English, or Al Jazeera Turkmenistanian, Marash is NEVER to be trusted as any source of news.
Marash thought he was cute going to Al Jazeera English. Poking ol' George Bush in the eye were you, Dave? And just now you've found them to be anti-American? By that you mean.."heck, these nuts are more anti-American than I AM"!!
Don't expect a lot of folks to give you the big thumb's up for dragging up from Al Jazeera, Dave. We've never expected anything from you, and you have lived up to our expectations.
AJE
March 28, 2008 - 14:11 ET by JohanSo, Marash is saying AJE is just like the US's main stream media?
lol
March 28, 2008 - 18:32 ET by well99Thats about right.
He apparently can't take the bias from Brits
March 28, 2008 - 14:23 ET by c5thenBut coming from fellow Americans, is just A-OK? Lets see if he turns up back at CNN or another MSM network. Now that his eyes are opened do you think he might be surprised?
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
What took him sooo long???
March 28, 2008 - 14:42 ET by PrairieSkyMarash has been at Al-Jazeera since November of '06. What took him so long to come to this stunning conclusion? My first thought when I read this was "Duh"!!! When you go to work for an outfit like Al-Jazeera, even the English version, what do you expect the attitude to be?? I am happy to see that Marash has quit, but I am even more gratified that he went public with WHY he quit. In journalism, that liberal snake-pit bastion, coming clean about why he left is surprising. It will be interesting to see where he turns up next...
The Brits aren't the only ones, here's the latest from CBS...
March 28, 2008 - 14:47 ET by Prester JohnFormer Terror Detainee Recalls Captivity
(CBS) A German resident held by the U.S. for almost five years tells 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley that Americans tortured him in many ways - including hanging him from the ceiling for five days early in his captivity when he was in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Even after determining he was not a terrorist, Murat Kurnaz says the torture continued. Kurnaz tells his story for the first time on American television this Sunday, March 30, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/28/60minutes/main3976928.shtml
Standy by for the Queen Bee, Harry, and the rest of the Defeatocrats to call for investingations.
Actually, this SCREAMS for
March 28, 2008 - 18:54 ET by BDActually, knowing the real conditions at GITMO, this SCREAMS for treatment by the masters of Rock and Roll - Spinal Tap's "Hell Hole" from the "Smell the Glove" Album:
I rode the jetstream, I hit the top
I'm eating steak and lobster tails
The sauna's drafty, the pools too hot
The kitchen stinks of boiling snails.
"The taxman's coming, the butler quit
This ain't no place to be a man
I'm going back to where I started
I'm flashing back into my pan.
Chorus:
It's better in a hell hole
You know where you stand in a hell hole
Folks lend a hand in a hell hole
Girl get me back to my hell hole.
dolt connects dots
March 28, 2008 - 15:21 ET by acumen"Given the global feelings about the Bush administration, it's not surprising," Marash said.
And just where does Mr. Marash believe those "global feelings" originated? Possibly the rag he just resigned from and others of the same biased mindset? Continue connecting the dots Mr. Marash...
NEWSFLASH.....
March 28, 2008 - 15:35 ET by CapeCodScottIt took two years to figure that out... I guess David Marash had to get at least 3 sources before he could conform the fact that the world hates US.
www.ScottOnCapeCod.com
"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... That was until they got angry enough to finally say something about it!
And just who is Al Jazeera?
March 28, 2008 - 16:02 ET by FastEdCan it be keith underwomans brother, seperated at birth??
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
"'Given the global feelings
March 28, 2008 - 17:13 ET by Indiana Joe"'Given the global feelings about the Bush administration, it's not surprising,' Marash said."
Of course it's not. When the American media declared "dog pile on W!" many moons ago, it's no surprise that world media followed their example. See, our MSM influences the whole WORLD! What POWER!
It's a drag when your well-trained attack dog turns on YOU, though, isn't it, Dave?
dislike
March 28, 2008 - 19:21 ET by m1xramYou would have thought he'd picked up on that vibe during the "Death to America" coverage.
I don't buy it!
March 29, 2008 - 05:54 ET by AgnosticWe are talking about a reporter, like many of his American peers, who would love to be seen as the next Jean Zeigler (sp?). I believe that he encountered the bias he spoke of but I doubt it was the anti-US bias that caused him to quit his job. Most likely it was the attack to his ego when he was looked down upon by his collegues because he was "just" an American. It is obvious the BDS didn't bother him nor did his own attacks against American culture so that leaves him being snubbed by the former BBC reporters who saw him as nothing but a second rate American reporter trying to rise to their level by attacking his own country.