|
Alhurra:
An Insider's View
A peek into the newsroom of Alhurra, and you will be quick to learn
much about its composition, methodology of operation, and its mission.
The room is vibrant, rich with bright colors, and filled with energy
and motion. Our individual stations are adjacent to each other, each
equipped with its own phone and television set, and our work exposed
to whoever walks by. Since our launch date, we've been surrounded by
cameramen, reporters, both foreign and local, politicians, congressmen,
and fellow broadcasters from other networks. Our work, then and now,
has been transparent and clear. We use words like "transparency"
and "clarity" to define who we are at Alhurra because every
journalist here is free to work and write within the boundaries of what
is ethical and unbiased.
Warning: fopen(/home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/cache/269224c51d97bf9086724bb78310d2ce) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 128
Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 129
Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 130
Warning: fopen(/home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/cache/08cb6b41c72b35d6e232f2733439b3d7) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 128
Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 129
Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 130
Warning: fopen(/home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/cache/c3cd6a5d4c12cc9e2d126107b91ead9b) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 128
Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 129
Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/noelense/public_html/kpd-online.info/exchange/ex_func.php on line 130
You look around the newsroom and people with diverse backgrounds, religions,
and political ideologies compose what is "Alhurra" today.
Many of us, at times, disagree on a variety of issues. But what ultimately
goes on air does not editorialize, in any way, or even justify political
events, persons or actions; but merely states the facts and the facts
are never disputed. All of us at Alhurra are aware of the prejudgments
made about the channel. It is one of the challenges and obstacles that
we face. However, we still maintain a high degree of professionalism
coupled with fulfillment and determination. We are proud journalists
because we also comprehend what we are a part of by working here.
I recall a short conversation between myself and the president of Alhurra
when I shared some of my concerns with him. He told me that "we
are not aiming to be the top news channel in the Arab world, and that
we just ought to focus on doing it right, to report the news as objectively
as we can and to have a positive influence amongst the various networks
that are out there." He added that "If five or seven years
down the line, other stations have a pulse identical to Alhurra, than
we have had a positive effect and have achieved a positive outcome."
We exist not to be the number one station, but to be an option for the
Arab viewer, an alternative, and hopefully a reliable source of information.
We are also aware that this is unachievable overnight.
Alhurra is off to a strong start. In only six months after the channel
launched, research firm ACNielsen conducted surveys in seven countries
in the region. Regardless of the country, a vast majority of Alhurra's
viewers found the news to be 'very or somewhat reliable' including 75
percent of Alhurra viewers in Egypt; 53 percent in Jordan; 80 percent
in Kuwait; 59 percent in Lebanon; 78 percent in Morocco; 73 percent
in Saudi Arabia and 81 percent in the United Arab Emirates.
Alhurra's weekly viewing rates among adults 15 and over, residing in
satellite TV households in those same markets were: Egypt 12 percent,
Jordan 29 percent, Kuwait 33 percent, Lebanon 20 percent, Morocco 22
percent, Saudi Arabia 24 percent, and the UAE 20 percent.
It is easy to turn a blind eye and make a judgment based on what you
think you know, because by doing so personal beliefs and convictions
never change and are never challenged. If that is applicable to all
our viewers then the future will only become dimmer and more like an
endless roller coaster ride of conflicts and chaos. Somewhere along
the line a bridge becomes more than vital and in order for that bridge
to be functional people on both ends need to trust its sturdiness. Alhurra
is qualified to be that bridge. Its journalists are patriotic Arabs
from all walks of life, gathered here to do what they do best.
I have seen newsrooms in a variety of television stations but none
of them reflect the kind of transparency and accuracy that is so clearly
reflected from Alhurra's newsroom.
-Dana Zureikat Daoud
|
