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AJ+

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AJ+
Available inEnglish, Arabic, Spanish, French
Predecessor(s)Current TV(English), (Spanish) (originally occupied former building and studio)
HeadquartersAJ+ EnglishWashington D.C.
AJ+ Arabi, AJ+ françaisDoha
AJ+ EspañolMexico City
Country of originUnited States
(English, Spanish)
Qatar(Arabic, French)
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerAl Jazeera Media Network
Key people
  • Dima Khatib
  • (Managing Director of AJ+)
  • Moeed Ahmad
  • (Head of AJ+ English and Launch Lead)
  • Lina Mansour(Head of AJ+ Arabic)
  • Riyaad Minty
  • (Launch Leads)
  • Dr Yaser Bishr
  • (Executive Director at Launch)
ServicesAJ+ English
YouTube
TikTok
X
Instagram
Facebook
Medium

AJ+ Arabic
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
AJ+ Spanish
Facebook
X

AJ+ French
Facebook
X
URLajplus.net
LaunchedSoft launch:
June 13, 2014(2014-06-13)(English)
April 23, 2015(2015-04-23)(Spanish) November 30, 2015(2015-11-30)(Arabic) December 4, 2017(2017-12-04)(French)
Full launch
September 15, 2014(2014-09-15)(English)

AJ+(Al Jazeera Plus) is asocial mediapublisher owned byAl Jazeera Media Networkwhich focuses on news and current affairs. AJ+ content exists in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. It is available on its website,YouTube,Facebook,Instagram,andX,with written content onMedium.

Work on the channel started in December 2012, shortly after Al Jazeera established an office in San Francisco. The first YouTube channel went live on December 17, 2013. The channel then had asoft launchon June 13, 2014. A full launch followed on September 15, 2014.

History

[edit]

Al Jazeera Media Networkoriginally planned to launch an Internet-only TV channel in 2010 as part of itssocial mediastrategy but later became pre-occupied with theArab Spring.Plans for an internet-only channel were re-launched upon the launch ofAl Jazeera Americawhen Al Jazeera Media Network had to geo-block most video fromAl Jazeera Englishincluding the channel's live stream to satisfy concerns from cable and satellite providers in the United States. The move was met with dissatisfaction from both viewers and Al Jazeera English producers and hosts.[1]

Also with the purchase ofCurrent TVto use for Al Jazeera America, AJMN acquired Current's former headquarters in San Francisco which was perfect for the type of channel Al Jazeera wanted to build being in the new media mecca of the San Francisco Bay Area and the building being already fitted to accommodate an online operation due to the original format of Current as a user-generated channel with heavy Internet integration.

In January 2012, members of the network's social media team relocated some of its staff to San Francisco to focus on building AJ+. After months of research and numerous pilots, the AJMN executive management were convinced of the project and providing funding and resources to scale. AJ+ is the first incubated project out Al Jazeera's Innovation & Incubation Department.[2]

In October 2013, it was announced that Al Jazeera Media Network would establish an Internet-only TV channel based entirely online called AJ+ based in San Francisco to launch sometime in 2014.[3]Led by a strategy team consisting of Riyaad Minty, Moeed Ahmad, and Muhammad Cajee, after a year of preparation the channel placed several test videos on YouTube in late 2013 followed by a soft launch in June 2014 with a full launch complete with a mobile app later in 2014.[4]

The channel was announced as launched on June 13, 2014, by Al Jazeera PR with several videos posted to YouTube and a newFacebook pagewhich it refers to as theAJ+ Communityalong with a new-look website with an updated logo.[5]The channel was soft-launched during a presentation by Al Jazeera on new media at theGlobal Editors Networksummit inBarcelona.The channel soft launched beginning with the tweet "We can confirm that this is our first official tweet. Because that's what real journalism is about. We're @AJPlus. Hello World:)".[6]The tweet was partly a pun of the first tweet sent out by theCIAearlier in the month.

In July 2014, the channel created a fellowship program and issued a call for fellows from five regions of the world in North America, South America, The Middle East, Europe, The Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa.[7]In August 2014, the channel branched out toInstagram.[8]On September 15, 2014, the channel launched fully with the release of its mobile app. The launch was attended by Al Jazeera Media Network Director General Mostefa Souag who stated "AJ reshaped media in 1996 when it launched, Sept 15th marks the new phase of change with AJ+".[9]

AJ+ Españolsoft-launchedin April 2015 to start testing content in a different language. According toVariety,AJ+ became the second largest news video producer onFacebook,afterNowThis News,in June 2015.[2]They are the ninth largest video producer on the platform overall.[10]On August 12, 2015, AJ+ announced the appointment of its first managing director,Dima Khatib.[11]That same month, AJ+ also released data showing that it has a 600% engagement rate on Facebook, making the network's Facebook page one of the most engaged news brands in the world.[12][13]As of April 2018, its Facebook page had obtained over ten million 'likes' from users. In October 2015, AJ+ announced that the channel had reached over one billion views across its platforms.[14]

In 2017, AJ+ launched a French-language version of the service. In 2018, the English version of the channel moved its operations toWashington D.C.In April 2018, AJ+ ended the use of its mobile apps, moving to content distribution over its website, various social media and YouTube. In September 2020, AJ+ was asked to register under theForeign Agents Registration Act(FARA) in the United States with the Trump Administration charging that the channel has engaged in political activities, backed by the royal family of Qatar.[15]Al Jazeera condemned the decision and linked it to the results of 3 years long lobbying fulfilled following the signing ofIsrael–United Arab Emirates peace agreement.[16]

Format

[edit]

AJ+ produces video and media directly to social platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram), through native apps on mobile devices (iOS and Android) andsmart TVplatforms (Apple TV,[17]Android TV,[18]andAmazon Fire TV).

AJ+ is separate from Al Jazeera's other cable and satellite news channels, though it shares the network's current 68 bureaus with the other channels.[citation needed]

The channel is headquartered in Washington D.C. Originally, it was headquartered San Francisco, California, in the expanded former headquarters and studio ofCurrent TV.The channel has branch offices inDoha, Qatar,Istanbul,Rio de Janeiro,Kuala LumpurandNairobi.[19]It also collects and creates content through freelancers in other areas of interest.[20]

Despite being based in the United States, the content of the channel is formatted for a global audience similar toAl Jazeera English.The channel has no hosts or anchors, and live reporting plays a lesser role. Most content is availableon demand.[21][22]

AJ+ offers news coverage from around the world, and also covers topics like lifestyle, culture and technology with very little text. Its videos range from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.[23]

The channel is experimenting with various storytelling formats.[24]It supports a high level of user interactions in the app and itsFacebook,YouTube andTwitterplatforms as well.[25]

AnArabic-languageversion of AJ+ was launched in 2015.[26]There is also a test Spanish version of the channel based out of San Francisco.[27]

Videos from the channel are occasionally featured on thewebsites of Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera America,before its closure, as a further in-depth feature of that website if the site is covering the same topic.[28][29]

Video format

[edit]
  • Real Time- Breaking and topical news published directly to social feeds, ranging in length from 30 seconds to three minutes
  • In Depth- Video features, contextual background pieces, monthly themes, and shows
    • Animated Explainers
    • Satire
    • Current Events
    • AJ+ Asks
  • Short Docs- documentaries generally ranging in length from 6–10 minutes
  • Video Journalists- Correspondent pieces shot on location around the world.
  • TED & AJ+- explainers in cooperation withTED

Presenters

[edit]

Former presenters

AJ+ occasionally featuresAl Jazeera Englishand before shutdownAl Jazeera Americacorrespondents depending upon what story they are covering.

Former mobile app

[edit]

The AJ+ Mobile App launched in September 2014 on iOS and Android platforms which was used until April 2018. The app employed a card and stack structure for navigation, and focuses primarily on user and social engagement.[citation needed]

Awards and honors

[edit]
  • In 2015, AJ+ won aWebby Awardfor Online Film & Video, News & Information[31]
  • At the 2015 Webby Awards, AJ+ was also honored in the categories of
    • Online Film & Video, News & Politics: Individual Episode (Ayotzinapa Student Killings Ignite Mexico and the Internet)[32]
    • Online Film & Video, Documentary: Series (AJ+ Short Docs)[33]
    • Mobile Sites & Apps, News (AJ+ Mobile App)[34]
  • In 2015, the AJ+ Mobile App was a finalist for theSociety for News Design's World's Best Digital Design award[35]

Controversy

[edit]

AJ+ has come under criticism, especially fromAmerican conservativesandpro-Israel publications,for a perceivedanti-American,anti-Israeli,and pro-leftistslant in its reporting.[36][37][38]

The FrenchNational Audiovisual Institutehas criticized AJ+ for its practice of generating viewer engagement through what it sees as one-sided reporting on emotional topics. The institute claims that 3/4 of AJ+ posts onTwittermentioned theIsraeli–Palestinian conflictor racism and police violence in theWestern world,and that the alleged editorial line of the channel serves to further the ideological influence ofQatarand presents ideological similarities with theMuslim Brotherhood.[39][40]

2019 Holocaust denial video

[edit]

In 2019, AJ+ produced and published an Arabic-language video thatdenied and minimized the Holocaust,asserting that theglobal Jewish communityuses "financial resources [and] media institutions" toexaggerate Jewish sufferingfor the benefit of theState of Israel.The video was translated into English byMiddle East Media Research Institute(MEMRI TV), sparking widespread outcry against Al Jazeera and condemnation from Israeli government officials. In response, Al Jazeera took down the video and suspended two of its journalists, stating that the video “contravened the network’s editorial standards.”[41]The video stated that "[the] number [of Jews murdered in the Holocaust] had been exaggerated and 'adopted by theZionist movement', and that Israel is the 'biggest winner' from the genocide. "[42]The video also renewed long-standing criticism of the differences between Al Jazeera's Arabic content and English content; critics have stated that the organization adheres to aliberal,left-wing, andsecularistapproach with its English content and aconservative,right-wing,andIslamistapproach in its Arabic content.[42][43][44][45]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Janko Roettgers."An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at AJ+, Al Jazeera's upcoming online news network".Archived fromthe originalon February 2, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  2. ^abJanko Roettgers (July 30, 2015)."Al Jazeera's AJ+ Finds Millions Of Eyeballs on Facebook".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on June 27, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  3. ^"PR News: Top Public Relations, Marketing and Social Media Blog".everything-pr.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  4. ^Janko Roettgers."Al Jazeera's AJ+ publishes first videos on YouTube".Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  5. ^"Look inside the AJ+ lab".[permanent dead link]
  6. ^"AJ+ on Twitter".Twitter.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2015.RetrievedJune 14,2014.
  7. ^"AJ+ Fellowship Program".Archived fromthe originalon August 5, 2014.RetrievedAugust 8,2014.
  8. ^"AJ+ (@ajplus) • Instagram photos and videos".instagram.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 27,2023.
  9. ^Riyaad Minty (September 15, 2014)."DG of @AlJazeera - AJ reshaped media in 1996 when it launched - Sept 15th marks the new phase of change with @ajplus".Twitter.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 15,2014.
  10. ^"The Biggest Facebook Video Publishers In June | The Whip".Blog.newswhip. June 2015. Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  11. ^"Photo credit: Issak Photography Al Jazeera Media".Pr.aljazeera. August 12, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon July 27, 2019.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  12. ^"How AJ+ reaches 600% of its audience on Facebook | Media news".Journalism.co.uk. August 5, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  13. ^4 Aug 2015 (August 4, 2015)."Al Jazeera PR on Twitter:" Did you know on @Facebook, more people are engaging with @ajplus than @BBCNews @CNN and @vicenews combined. t.co/TMhHHWYIDZ "".Twitter.Archivedfrom the original on March 6, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^"AJ+ passes one billion milestone".Digital TV Europe. October 12, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  15. ^"U.S. Orders Al Jazeera Affiliate to Register as Foreign Agent".The New York Times.September 15, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 17,2020.
  16. ^"Al Jazeera condemns AJ+ FARA registration order in US".Al Jazeera.September 16, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on September 16, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 17,2020.
  17. ^"Al Jazeera's AJ+ Gets its Own Apple TV App".January 19, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 24,2019.
  18. ^"AJ+ Releases Android TV App, Expanding Its Presence on the Big Screen".April 4, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 24,2019.
  19. ^Janko Roettgers."Al Jazeera is staffing up for the launch of its AJ+ online video news network".Archived fromthe originalon June 27, 2018.RetrievedApril 6,2014.
  20. ^Reid, Alastair (April 17, 2015)."Beyond websites: How AJ+ is innovating in digital storytelling".Journalism.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on June 3, 2019.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  21. ^"A look at AJ+ - al Jazeera's unique approach to engaging with millennials".January 26, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 24,2019.
  22. ^"Al Jazeera just soft-launched its AJ+ online video network".June 13, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon February 24, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 24,2019.
  23. ^"Female illustrator gives 'oversexualised niqabi superhero' a makeover".Pakistan Today. September 4, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on June 3, 2019.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  24. ^Hadas Gold(November 22, 2013)."Al Jazeera looks to online news with AJ+".Politico.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  25. ^"How Al Jazeera's AJ+ aims to engage millennials".September 15, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2017.RetrievedDecember 27,2017.
  26. ^Roettgers, Janko (July 30, 2015)."How Al Jazeera's AJ+ Became One of the Biggest Video Publishers on Facebook".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on December 2, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
  27. ^Vivarelli, Nick (July 1, 2016)."New Al Jazeera Digital Division Chief on How Facebook, Google, Control News (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on June 21, 2019.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  28. ^"Hong Kong students demonstrate the art of protest | Al Jazeera America".America.aljazeera. October 28, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  29. ^"Bhopal tragedy: Toxic legacy of the world's worst industrial disaster | Al Jazeera America".America.aljazeera. December 2, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  30. ^"Al Jazeera America Launches Debate Program" Third Rail "With Host Imran Garda | Al Jazeera America".America.aljazeera. May 14, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on August 4, 2015.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  31. ^"AJ+".The Webby Awards.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2015.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  32. ^"Ayotzinapa Student Killings Ignite Mexico and the Internet".The Webby Awards.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2016.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  33. ^"AJ+ Short Docs".The Webby Awards.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2015.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  34. ^"AJ+".The Webby Awards.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2015.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  35. ^"World's Best-Designed Digital Finalists | SNDDC 2015 Workshop".Snd.org. Archived fromthe originalon February 27, 2021.RetrievedJuly 2,2016.
  36. ^"How Al Jazeera Dresses Up Its Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism for an English-Speaking Audience » Mosaic".Mosaic.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  37. ^"OUCHIE! Caleb Howe ZINGS Leftist rag still claiming no known motive for San Bernardino a year ago".December 2, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on June 12, 2018.RetrievedJune 7,2018.
  38. ^"AJ is Lying to You".Camera on Campus. 2016.Archivedfrom the original on June 12, 2018.RetrievedDecember 26,2018.
  39. ^"AJ+: Derrière la modernité, le média d'influence du Qatar"(in French).Archivedfrom the original on August 13, 2021.RetrievedJuly 17,2021.
  40. ^""AJ+ français": Quand la propagande du Qatar se cache derrière un progressisme féministe et LGBT "(in French). April 25, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2019.RetrievedJuly 17,2021.
  41. ^"Al Jazeera takes disciplinary action and suspends two of its journalists over violation of its editorial guidelines".Al Jazeera Network.
  42. ^abFathalla, Amira (May 20, 2019)."Al Jazeera suspends journalists for Holocaust denial video".BBC.Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2021.RetrievedDecember 5,2022.Al Jazeera English is known to audiences worldwide for its varied coverage, which often sheds light on underreported stories. But its reporting - which only occasionally hints at the affiliations of its Qatari owners - comes in stark contrast to Al Jazeera Arabic. AJA's obvious stance on key regional crises and rivalries heavily colours its output. Its friendly coverage of Islamist groups - particularly favouring those aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood - came to the fore particularly with the 2011 uprisings in the region. Some of its correspondents have adopted a still harder line. In 2015, prominent anchor Ahmed Mansour offered a sympathetic account of the activities of al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate in a lengthy interview with its leader. Since a major rift between Gulf states erupted in 2017, AJA's coverage has also shifted closer to Iran.
  43. ^"Al Jazeera English vs. Al Jazeera Arabic: One channel, two messages".Al Arabiya.May 20, 2020.
  44. ^"Aljazeera: One Organization, Two Messages | The Washington Institute".washingtoninstitute.org.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  45. ^Greenslade, Roy (February 26, 2014)."Al-Jazeera English is not Al-Jazeera Arabic - but Egypt doesn't agree".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
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