Free News or Fake News?

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in July 2017.

Al-Jazzera is an interesting news organization. Global in its ambitions, it is funded by the small, oil-rich nation of Qatar. As you might imagine, its English-language broadcasting service is controversial in the U.S.. However, it is the Arabic-language broadcasts that have led to demands by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others that it be shut down. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Why is the news media controversial--both here and in other places around the world?

•Is it possible to have journalism that has no point of view? If that is impossible, what ethics should journalists live by?

•Should we in the U.S. want Al-Jazeera to close, continue, or do something else? Why?