Why did the DNC shun Al-Jazeera at their convention?

  • News
  • Thread starter GENIERE
  • Start date
In summary, Al-Jazeera was allowed to display their lightbox sign at the Republican National Convention, which was not permitted at the Democratic National Convention. The sign went missing in Boston, but resurfaced in a different location. The Bush administration has criticized Al-Jazeera for their coverage of the Iraq war. Despite this, Al-Jazeera will have a prominent position at the Republican convention. The handling of Al-Jazeera's sign is seen as a distinguishing factor between the two parties. However, the relevance of this issue is questionable.
  • #1
GENIERE
DNC shuns Al-Jazeera

AP - Friday, August 27, 2004

NEW YORK — In the upper reaches of Madison Square Garden the satellite news channel Al-Jazeera perches in a media skybox right next to Fox 5 News.

During the Republican National Convention which starts on Monday, Al-Jazeera will be allowed to display its lightbox sign just like any other news channel here — something that didn't happen at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month.

After receiving permission from Democrats to display the Al-Jazeera sign in Boston, crew members discovered that it had gone missing. "It was very mysterious," said technician Wayne Coleman, who works with the ABC crew providing support to Al-Jazeera.

Convention officials said they needed the space to put up a johnkerry.com banner. Al-Jazeera's sign eventually resurfaced in Burlington, Mass., some 15 miles away from the convention site. They purchased a new one for the Republican convention…

If the Democrats gave Al-Jazeera a frosty reception, they might have expected more of the same from the Republicans. The Bush administration has criticized Al-Jazeera for its coverage of the Iraq war, which Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has called "violently anti-coalition."

Now, the broadcaster will have a prominent position behind the stage and immediately to the right, from a viewer's perspective. The new four foot by six foot Al-Jazeera lightbox could well show up in every TV station's cutaway shot.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/...4455652,00.html [Broken]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
And it is this, the handling of Al-Jazeera's sign, which truly distinguishes the character of both parties...
 
  • #3
wow, you're digging pretty hard for this stuff, aren't you GENIERE?
 
  • #4
Gza said:
wow, you're digging pretty hard for this stuff, aren't you GENIERE?

I saw this on CNN.
 
  • #5
I saw this on CNN.

Nevertheless, why is this exactly relevant? Like wasteofo2 mentioned, why should we care how Al-Jazeera's sign is handled? I couldn't care either way.
 
  • #6
Umm...nor do I, particularly.
 

1. Why did the DNC choose not to invite Al-Jazeera to their convention?

The DNC stated that they made the decision not to invite Al-Jazeera to their convention due to concerns about the network's objectivity and bias in their reporting. They also cited the network's lack of transparency in their funding and ownership as reasons for their decision.

2. Was this decision influenced by political pressure?

The DNC maintains that their decision was not influenced by any political pressure, but rather based on their own concerns about the network's journalistic integrity. However, some critics have argued that the decision was politically motivated, as Al-Jazeera has been known to be critical of the United States and its policies.

3. Is this the first time Al-Jazeera has been excluded from a major event?

No, Al-Jazeera has faced similar exclusion from other major events in the past, including the 2016 Republican National Convention and the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The network has also faced criticism and backlash from various governments and organizations over their reporting and coverage.

4. Are there any plans to include Al-Jazeera in future events?

At this time, there are no plans to include Al-Jazeera in future events. The DNC has not made any statements regarding a change in their decision, and it is ultimately up to the organization to determine which media outlets are invited to cover their events.

5. How does this decision impact media diversity and freedom of the press?

Many have argued that the DNC's decision to exclude Al-Jazeera goes against the principles of media diversity and freedom of the press. By limiting the access of certain media outlets, it can be seen as limiting the diversity of perspectives and information available to the public. However, others argue that the DNC has the right to control who is invited to cover their events and that the exclusion of one media outlet does not significantly impact media diversity as a whole.

Similar threads

  • General Discussion
Replies
2
Views
3K
Back
Top