Al-Jazeera and the Arab Uprisings: The Language of Images and a Medium's Stancetaking

Abstract

This study (a) investigates the complex set of emergent meanings from Al‐Jazeera's visual narratives about itself, and (b) analyzes how Al‐Jazeera's visual texts articulate a broader set of nationalist meanings concerning Qatar, its home country. Rather than a content analysis of language, visual elements are emphasized, which transcend the news story or program content. The “content” here involves not just events themselves but the metatextual meanings emerging from the images woven among programs, promotional videos, and commercial advertisements.

Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English Websites: Agenda-Setting as a Means to Comparatively Analyze Online News Stories

“…It is to that effect that the aim of this study was to examine Al Jazeera's online coverage to determine consistency in reporting of new stories. As stated earlier, Nasr (2014) noted that Al Jazeera's coverage of events during the Arab Spring was not entirely objective. This is interesting, since the network is adamant that it strives for objectivity in its coverage of news items.…”

“…Moreover, El-Nawawy and Powers (2010) commented that as a global media player, Al Jazeera was successful in bringing together a diverse set of audiences from around the world to engage in discussion and debate. However, Nasr (2014) noted that the Al Jazeera coverage of news items is not without controversy, and although the network touts itself as free and fair in its reporting of issues, its lack of criticism of Qatar cannot be overlooked. In addition, Al Jazeera's coverage of revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen during the Arab Spring was delivered with a hint of subjectivity (Nasr, 2014).…”

“…However, Nasr (2014) noted that the Al Jazeera coverage of news items is not without controversy, and although the network touts itself as free and fair in its reporting of issues, its lack of criticism of Qatar cannot be overlooked. In addition, Al Jazeera's coverage of revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen during the Arab Spring was delivered with a hint of subjectivity (Nasr, 2014). This hint of subjectivity was echoed by Elena (2016) who noted that Al Jazeera took the side of the democratically-elected Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.…”