Chinese global news service may help change China

The channel's name means “The Peninsula” or “The Island.” The name is a reference to the geography of the Arabian Peninsula, but is also a nod to the station's status as the only independent broadcaster in the region. Started in 1996, few in the western world predicted anything but failure for this upstart and for years, pundits used the name as a kind of synonym for propaganda.

But now, a decade after its inception, Al Jazeera is seen by most objective observers as a mainstream media group - albeit with a more controversial tone than say, CNN. It's supporters will go so far as to say that the only reason Al Jazeera is considered “controversial” is that it takes the notion of fair and balanced reporting seriously, offering equal airtime to the less popular view and being willing to broadcast images of militants and their deeds, something other channels might see as “bringing comfort to the enemy.”

To be fair, the main reason Al Jazeera has been able to survive and prosper has been the deep pockets of its benefactors. Initially given a US$150 million starting grant by the Emir of Qatar, the station failed to become self-sufficient by the deadline of 2001. The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, has refused to abandon his baby and agreed to yearly grants including a US$30 million payout in 2004. A considerable portion of Al Jazeera's income also comes from advertising, sales and other deals, but suffice it to say, having a powerful backer has been this station's lifeblood.

Within a decade or so we may have yet another major player in the media world. This time the viewpoints will be coming out of Beijing. On Sunday the New York Times reported that China intends to enter the global media market and will put billions of U.S. dollars where its mouth is.

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