Al-Jazeera Chief Mohammad Jasim Al-Ali Appointed Associate; Calls for Adham Center/Al-Jazeera Cooperation

JUNE 13, 2000 Mohammad Jasim Al-Ali, Al-Jazeera managing director, was named an honorary faculty member of the Adham Center at tonight’s annual awards dinner.

In his letter appointing Al-Ali as an Associate, AUC Provost Tim Sullivan noted that Al-Jazeera has filled the void in Arab broadcasting for independent journalism and free speech. Dr. Sullivan observed that most surveys these days rank Al-Jazeera as the most popular television channel in the Arab world.

In his acceptance speech, Al-Ali noted how much the Adham Center and Al-Jazeera have in common: “Diversity, objectivity, and mastering professional work has long been your drive, as it has been, and still is, ours.”

Al-Ali said that “Al-Jazeera channel widely opens its arms to AUCians, especially to graduates of the Adham Center. You are most welcome to join us in our headquarters in Doha, here in Cairo, or anywhere in the world. This priority to work with us, should you choose to, is but a recognition of what you had to prove on your way to the highest standards of qualification.”

Adham Center director S. Abdallah Schleifer welcomed Al-Ali’s remarks, and in particular his call for greater cooperation between the channel and the Adham Center. Noting the importance of Al-Jazeera, Schleifer said that the channel “has also gained considerable attention in the Arab press--some of that attention has reflected the widespread admiration that Al Jazeera has achieved from millions of viewers throughout the Arab world. Some of that attention has reflected concern or even fear of its willingness to air criticism. But that concern is beginning to evaporate as established interests realize that Al Jazeera has no special interests, no axe to grind and it is committed in news and in debate to always present both sides of the story.”

full text of Mohammad Jasim Al-Ali’s speech