Media

Update: Clinton Media Criticism Buoys Al-Jazeera

Update: Clinton Media Criticism Buoys Al JazeeraNEW YORK (AP) — A decade ago the U.S. government attacked Al-Jazeera as a propagator of anti-American propaganda. Now Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is citing the network for fine news coverage — and tweaking the U.S. media in the process.

The Arab broadcaster says it’s ready to take advantage of what it considers a major boost in its acceptance in the United States.

Clinton, on the week many U.S. television outlets were preoccupied by the spectacle of actor Charlie Sheen, suggested during testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that American networks were falling behind in the competition for information.

Al-Jazeera has been a leader in changing people’s minds and attitudes, Clinton told lawmakers Wednesday.

Update: Clinton Media Criticism Buoys Al Jazeera

“Like it or hate it, it is really effective,” Clinton said. “In fact, viewership of Al-Jazeera is going up in the United States because it is real news.”

“You may not agree with it, but you feel like you’re getting real news around the clock instead of a million commercials and, you know, arguments between talking heads and the kind of stuff that we do on our news that is not providing information to us, let alone foreigners.”

In fact, Al-Jazeera‘s television viewership hasn’t gone up much in the U.S. because it is still not widely available, seen only on scattered cable systems in Vermont, Ohio and Washington, D.C.

But online viewership of Al-Jazeera English spiked during the demonstrations in Egypt — up 2,500 percent at its peak, with nearly half of the followers from the United States, the network said.

Al-Jazeera has taken advantage of the moment, asking visitors to its website to click a tab that automatically generates a letter to the users’ local cable system encouraging them to add the network. More than 40,000 e-mails have been generated, spokeswoman Molly Conroy said.

The network’s leaders in the past two weeks have also visited with Time Warner, Comcast and Cablevision executives to seek space on their systems, she said.

“The events in Egypt have convinced an increasing number of Americans, the secretary of state included, that the coverage Al-Jazeera has provided for these events is something that is seen as a dramatic shift in perception of the network,” said Abderrahim Foukara, Al-Jazeera’s Washington bureau chief.

Fox News Channel’s Michael Clemente said he was “surprised and kind of curious” by Clinton’s remarks.

“We’ve got leadership issues there, the safety of people, the safety of our own people,” said Clemente, senior vice president for news. “Some big issues. All of a sudden there are headlines about Al-Jazeera versus the news in this country? It’s just surprising. Curious more than surprising.”

Representatives from CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC news all declined comment Friday on what Clinton said.

But former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno agreed with her assessment.

“She’s right,” said Sesno, who is now director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University.

“Cable news has become cable noise. It was intended to be an opportunity to inform people, and instead it has become an opportunity to inflame people.”

The cable news shift toward opinion has paid off handsomely for ratings leader Fox News Channel and, to a lesser extent, MSNBC.

CNN has resisted a partisan drift to concentrate more on news and has suffered in the ratings the past couple of years. With budget cuts, the influence of the major broadcast news divisions has been waning.

Even with the move toward opinion, the news networks often provide informative coverage when there is breaking news, such as the Egyptian revolution, Sesno said.

What’s lacking is an attention span — a willingness to stick with stories and provide context. There’s an addiction to “this just in,” he said.

Clinton’s complimentary assessment of the Arab broadcaster is an about-face from just a decade ago, when the Bush administration complained that Al-Jazeera promoted those who opposed the United States. Former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld calling it “inexcusably biased.”

That hostility played a big role in the network failing to get any traction with U.S. cable systems.

Al-Jazeera’s Foukara said that with overseas audiences, particularly in the Arab world, the broadcaster finds a hunger for news.

“You can stay focused on a story for hours or days or even weeks on end,” he said, “while in the U.S., the assumption is that people are not as interested in news, particularly news outside of the United States.”

Sesno said the unrest in the Arab world could prove as important to Al-Jazeera as the first Gulf War was for establishing CNN in the United States.

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See Also: Beck Calls Sec. Clinton’s Promoting Al Jazeera ‘Insanity’

Comments (127)

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  • Devil Dog 7175
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:16am

    Kinda glad her and “Hot Worm” didn’t get back in the WHITE HOUSE. That is the only way I could imagine things being even worse then they are now. Oblo-me“s one fatal mistake is that he has allowed lots of time to go by so we could ”ready ourselves” that I believe Billery would’nt have allowed. She would have right away attempted to disarm and neuter the citizenry so she could have carried out her progressive plans without fear of armed resistance.

    Report Post » Devil Dog 7175  
  • matt708
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:07am

    Hey Hillary who the hell side are you on? You speak like a commie. Maybe you should go with your husband and live in Haiti fora year and appreciate what you have. Hyprocrite

    Report Post »  
  • GIDEON612
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:06am

    The real issue today is the “Signs of the Times.” Seek God out for this and trust in Him and He will open your eyes. Anyone that disagrees with this has shown their fruit and have chosen their side already.
    There are no gray areas in this matter. Gray areas belong to satan as well. It is all or nothing and if you can’t see the Signs of the Times then you have made your choice already. While you still have the breath of life in you it is not too late. Once you die no one can pray you in. That rubbish is in man-made doctrines. I have been super naturally healed of several things and God has revealed Himself to me. Anyone that wishes to speak the contrary will be sorted with the sheep and goats.

    Look up for your redemption draws near.

    P.S. Beware of Romans is right. The Roman Empire never fell. We all still use even the roman transportation methods. Don’t believe me ? Check out the width of what the roman carts wheels were and go to a rail road crossing. Hmmmm?

    Bible prophecy is never wrong, it was written by the Creator.

    Report Post » GIDEON612  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:01am

    So nice to see a Whole Block of funny and enlightening repartee, float off into the ether. Thanks Blaze

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:56am

    This leaves no doubt in my mind that the Demos are in bed with the Muslims and it will do nothing but get worse until we send those who believe in Sharia law back to their country. The Demos have demostrated time and time again that they could care less about this country and would gladly give to Islam if it suited their needs.

    Report Post »  
  • desertkid
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:53am

    Hillary you might want to wipe that al-JEEZeera off your chin before you soil that blue dress.

    Report Post »  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:51am

    al-Jazeera is a tool of Islamic jihad.

    Hillary promotes jihad against America? What an odd thing for our SOS to do, no?

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • JROCCOD
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:46am

    Where is my Country???????

    Report Post »  
  • powhatan
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:43am

    H. Clinton has proved herself an enemy to America. Seriously///the propoganda arm of islamic terrorists…..and she wants Americans to think their crap is factual? Her deciples must be the dumbest people on earth!

    Report Post » powhatan  
  • bigbro
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:37am

    Who wants to watch that foreign crap 24/7????????????????

    Report Post »  
  • hownowbrownmao
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:35am

    They cover up the execution of gays? Why do they cover up the execution of gays? Isn’t homosexual behavior an abomination in all three Abrahamic Traditions? I agree that killing sissies can’t be considered a virtue anywhere, but I believe Moses received similar instuctions as well,………..

    Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:48am

      Say it ain’t so, Mao.

      The Cult Of Peace???/

      Culling Gay’s????

      OOPS Culling ““Sissies”???

      Moses just contacted me , Said he can’t wait to meet you.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • starman70
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:26am

    She works for Obama, how else should she act in order to curry more favor with the Muslim in Chief?

    Report Post »  
  • CrazyJ
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:21am

    Commenters, have you ever watched Al Jazeera? I’d bet no for most of you. She does have a point, they are offering news instead of Hollywood trash updates, something Foxnews is guilty of just like the rest. I’ll say this, they are no worse than MSNBC.

    Report Post » CrazyJ  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:42am

      Like PMSNBC, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, U pic em ,, Uncle Al-J, is our liberal MSM on steroids. It is the propaganda arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Quida, The hambone in the Nehru jacket in Iran, ( does he get all his Nehru’s when he comes to NY CITY to trash America ??) Ok to watch these ,, JOURNALISTS????????????????, but if you take what they say at face value, Welllllll ,

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • powhatan
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:44am

      you have been sucked into the propoganda world…..Do your homework

      Report Post » powhatan  
    • UlyssesP
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:54am

      I have watched AJ on FSTV thru Direct TV.
      It is crap.

      Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:42am

      Oh? What’s crap about it, Ulysses?

      Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:13pm

      No worse than msnbc. Is that some kind of compliment ?

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • idrathermisstotheright
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:41pm

      Maybe Matthews has a backup plan to go to AJ when he gets fired. The only thing he should worry about though is they may remove the leg that tingled when he hears or sees BO.

      Report Post » idrathermisstotheright  
  • I-HATE-THE-WORD-DISENFRANCHISE
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:19am

    Why not, aren’t al-juzzantius and liberals both seeking the destruction of our country. It reminds me of the day when they caught the al-quida leader in iraqi. I thought the dems were going to cry becouse one of their team mates against Bush admin. was brought down.

    Report Post »  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:14am

    Hillary is a political hack. If she were married to a cab driver from NJ she’d still ripping off people with here real estate scams somewhere and we would never know about her.

    Al-Jazeera covers up for honor killings, abuse of women, execution of gays, persecution of Christians and provides cover for Radical Islam™. She supports them because they are STATE RUN. Something she would love to see in the US.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • jkconi
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:13am

    Hillary Clinton’s latest absurd remarks about Al-Jazeera demonstrates beyond a doubt that she is as big an enemy of this country as is obama. Both are POS and don’t deserve to be in the positions they occupy, and both are the enemies of Israel. For the life of me, I can’t fathom how Jews in the United States still support this scumbag pair of traitors.

    Report Post »  
  • JP4JOY
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:10am

    Hillary is just setting up to replace NPR with Al Jazeera when NPR loses its federal grant money. What a nightmare, someone wake me up!!

    Report Post » JP4JOY  
  • kenneth of mass consumption
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:08am

    she is right! she maligned the big networks,abc,nbc,cbs,more than the fact based fox.the world is on fire and they spent the week covering charlie sheen! i think the today show did three straight days of sheen coverage! it is crap and designed to keep the public uninformed about what the administration is doing to this country!! we are going down the tubes,and the“big three” don’t want the voters to know what their boy nobama is doing to their country! it is a disgrace and criminal!!!

    Report Post »  
  • RLTW
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:01am

    Our domestic infighting has kept us safe over the years because we’ve stayed within the rule of law, but now with the progressive weakening of our constitution and MSM working against the people they want foreign intruders to be allowed to disturb what left of the American process.

    Report Post »  
  • NE12012
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:59am

    Another “we suck” moment. What is it with these people?

    Report Post » NE12012  
    • drattastic
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:10pm

      They are anti-American to their cores and at the helm,what insanity has gripped this country.

      Report Post » drattastic  
  • kspatriot
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:55am

    What a DITZ!!!

    Report Post » kspatriot  
  • kreese
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:54am

    In 08, she was the other choice for the Dems? A fate worse than death!

    I have thought she would resign and run against Obama in 12. She is as dumb as Obama–but can speak better.

    Report Post »  
    • teachermitch32
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:40am

      She may still resign and run. I hope she does. It will show one more split in their forces, and I’m sure her team of “investigators/ assassins” will dig up alot of dirt on Oh-bummer that we miss. If we get a good candidate, like say…Herman or Allen….we should have no problems winning.

      Report Post »  
  • reconmarine
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:53am

    I can’t wait to see Hillary in a Burkha. She really would look best that way.

    Report Post »  
  • drhunt
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:47am

    Al Jazeera? Really, Artillery Hillary? It appears that the Sec. of State job is getting to her, as world events are continuing to tax what little experience this administration had/has. Hope and Change is now Fear and Loathing.

    Report Post » drhunt  
    • Robert-CA
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:16am

      it’s all about money Al Jazeera wrote a big check to the Clintons .

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • hopnmad
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:27am

      “A decade ago the U.S. government attacked Al-Jazeera as a propagator of anti-American propaganda.”
      ************************************************
      You know, Hillary..the rest of the country doesn’t follow the San Fran, Chicago viewpoint that it’s always Americans to blame and those Muslims, well like Rosie O’ Donnell says “there’s nothing to fear because they are parents too..” Insanity!

      Report Post » hopnmad  
    • drhunt
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:39pm

      Robert-Ca…so did the ChiComs…doesn’t mean she has to brown nose anyone. I suppose the “country first” political position was lost on the Clintons a LONG time ago. Here…check my blog out…

      http://drhunt1.blogspot.com/

      Report Post » drhunt  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:40pm

      When you think really think about it what Administration Job allows you to travel the world and get paid to subvert the Constitution by the Gov’t created by that Constitution. She is the perfect person to get all the external players in line for when they want to spring the trap and that trap could be in 2012. Will we see a free and fair election or will we see an election in crisis so that Soros can come in and clean out the Treasury and leave us with moldy bread like the Weimar Republic in the 20′s – 30′s that allowed an Austrian Jew to take power and drive the world into War.

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:44am

    This business with Clinton is one of power and of control; for herself and her own agenda, nothing more and nothing less.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:50am

      Again, our government traitors support Muslim terrorists and in this case, their official media mouthpiece. I guess when Al-Jazeera oneday reports Bin Laden likes to strap bomb vests on cute, fuzzy bunnies, Hillary and her ilk will stand up and rejoice over that one too.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • TrueGrit
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:51am

      Hillary Clinton has been a Palestinian sympathizer for years.
      Helped start Moveon.org.
      NOT a person without a hidden agenda.

      Wolverine

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:31am

      Clinton and her husband have been so exposed…Thank You Glenn…Thank God for the internet (American Made)….Notice that whenever anything truly controversial has taken place over the past two years…she’s goes missing in action…THEN…when it SUITES HER PURPOSES – TA DA- she SPEAKS! She aught to go lead the Islamic front in the Middle East where women like her look best in a burka!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:31am

      What do you expect from a protege’ of Saul Alinsky. FYI – As a college student she became close friends with Saul Alinsky. So much so she was asked by him to proof the manuscript of the now famous (for the wrong reasons of course) book Rules for Radicals. Think she might have some of those PROGRESSIVE tendencies about her? They are all cut from the same cloth. Think this is speculation or rumor? Just read the “Shadow Party” by David Horiwitz. Ties Clinton, Alinsky, Piven and Soros all together in a nice, neat diabolical package with the common interest of taking control of America and transforming it into the new Socialist State.

      Report Post »  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:53am

      She likes outlets like Al-Jazeera because they are a propaganda machine in the highest form. When she mentions no commercials and no talking heads she likes this fact because the outlet is a continuous loop, non-stop and never ending diatribe of, in this case, anti-American propaganda. You can imagine a constant never ending chant, rave , or whatever you want to call it that is pro Muslim and anti-American blarring over the air waves. Once firmly established in this country I would not be surprised if there were loud speaker installed in major towns and cities across the nation so all can hear this God Forsaken crap. First stop, San Francisco..then L.A…then New York. Think this is far fetched. I just remind you to look back about 4 years ago. Everything we talked about then as being FAR FETCHED or tin hat conspiracy thinking has either already happened or is now happening in this country. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Stop denying the reality of what is happening right before your very eyes. Remember! Denial is curable.

      Report Post »  
    • Robert-CA
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:14am

      I just want to know one thing ” How big was the check from Al Jazeera to the Clintons ?”

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • staggerlee32
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:24am

      @COBRA BLUE
      You are 100% correct. Denial may be curable, but stupidity is not.

      Report Post » staggerlee32  
    • Ashley
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:34am

      Hillary is now shedding her mask that she has used to cover her Progressive/Socialist agenda from the unsuspecting public. Wish the Hillary Clinton “fan club” would wake-up to the truth that Hillary is just another Alinsky-ite, who wishes a Socialistic state upon America. And, she is all about power, wealth, and the “agenda”. Disgusting.

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:45am

      Hillery is driving nails in her coffin, (if she is planing to run for potus), one nail at a time….I’m going to ship her a keg of 8 penny nails and a 10 pound hammer to help her!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:14pm

      Hmmm, “…instead of a million commercials….” Now how could we fix that? State run TV perhaps? You know, just so everybody gets the real news.

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:49pm

      @ JZS…………If you have any integrity remaining go back and read my post after your last comment on the story about Tx requiring sonograms before an abortion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:52pm

      Yeah she maybe right and that they provide a service to their viewers in the Islamic world but they would fail miserably in this country because you can’t show on a “News” channel a man having his head removed against his will. It is so easy to forget all the American Civilian workers that were captured by Iraqi terrorists and killed on tape and aired by Al-Jezeera TV, it is that reason that it has been banned in the US since they follow different editorial or no editorial standards.

      If they came to this countries cable networks then they would have to water down what has made them so popular among the Progressive Movement. Oh wait the President will just create an Executive Order giving them special access and then they would be the open propoganda arm like Cass Sustein wants to go up against Fox News Channels opinion shows. Did they not learn that Air America was a failure maybe because the listeners were more conservative than what that show was willing to provide its listeners? Why is it that when Liberals want to repeat an error in judgement…

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
    • Blacktooth
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:56pm

      It is frustrating trying to find a real news source on TV. I could care less about anything coming out of Hollywood. All TV news falls into the stupid stories trap, thinking we need some knowledge of some goof-ball actor. I would love to see a honest, serious news source that tells us what is happening in the world and the reasons for it. And quit editing videos! We are all grown up enough to handle the news as it really is. We are not children.

      Report Post » Blacktooth  
    • idrathermisstotheright
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:28pm

      I think she is working on getting their endorsement for president.

      Report Post » idrathermisstotheright  
    • copper
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:29pm

      Clinton is another pimp for CAIR & the Muslim Brotherhood. I can’t wait until she starts sporting a birqa!

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on March 5, 2011 at 2:18pm

      Sorry everyone, but I watch Al Jazeera all the time now, and don’t find it anti American or anti west at all. The best world news out there. The radical Islamists hate Al Jazeera because it is modern and progressive. Al Jazeera is helping to modernize the Islamic world. Has anyone else here ever watched Al Jazeera ? I like a lot of what Glee Beck says, but he is wrong about Al Jazeera, he probably hasn’t watched it either. Oh course if you are not interested in world news, then stick with the American new channels. As a conservative I watch FOX when I want American news, but Al Jazeera is my choice for world news.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • Tired_of_the_lies
      Posted on March 6, 2011 at 11:36am

      Truth is truth no matter who tells it, and in this case, Hillary is 100% correct!

      Spend some time visiting the english Aljazeera web site daily to see what the coverage is like.
      Then contrast that to the coverage on American sites of all political stries.

      http://english.aljazeera.net/

      Aljazeera’s coverage is much better – real news, not spin and BS. I think they even have the best coverage of US news. And it is interesting to observe all the important items that are not even mentioned in the US media (or other western media for that matter).

      So, open your eyes and see for yourself. Don’t buy into the automatic hate and labeling that is rampant of this site. THINK for yourself!

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:51pm

      TIRED-OF-THE-LIES, Thank you, at least one other poster here has actually watched Al Jazeera.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • flyboy65
      Posted on March 7, 2011 at 3:32am

      Just wait till their Christ, the Mahdi gets on TV. Antichrist or false prophet? The Rapture is eminent…

       
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