Al Jazeera English Channel

1. How effective do you think the Internet will be for Al Jazeera as it attempts to reach a U.S. audience?

-I think the internet isn't going to be super effective in reaching U.S. audiences because U.S. citizens have to express an interest in expanding their viewpoints to include middle eastern perspectives. The Internet allows people to skim over things they don't want to see, which according to a majority of people would be Al Jazeera television. For Al Jazeera to reach a U.S. audience effectively, the stereotype of it being a "terrorist" network and the negative connotations associated with the network will have to be changed. I think they should try to get their network incorporated with already established U.S. news channels and become contributors to these channels before trying to establish an individual channel in the U.S.

2. Based on your own observations, do you think that Al Jazeera English should be allowed to broadcast in the U.S.?

- Yes. They are reporting the news and should be allowed to express their opinion. I think it would be valuable to have Al Jazeera broadcast in the U.S. because it offers a different perspective on the news that U.S. stations are reporting. The interesting thing about listening to Al Jazeera is seeing and hearing the impact things the U.S. do on the Middle East.

3. What, if anything, do you notice about Al Jazeera's approach to telling the news? How is it different than the U.S.-based TV news outlets that you have experienced?

- The main difference I noticed in the part I watched was that it was very discussion oriented. There were three people discussing each issue, rather than just one person reporting an already scripted news story. Another thing I noticed was that they weren't strictly reporting Middle Eastern news, but news concerning much of the Eastern part of the world.

4. While on the Al Jazeera site, be sure to check out the network's published Code of Ethics. Based on your own observations, do you think they are adhering to them?

- Yes, I think that Al Jazeera is adhearing to their Code of Ethics. In my opinion, they probably stick to them almost more than some established news stations because they have to prove that they are a credible news station.