Qatar, Oct. 1 (ANI): Al-Jazeera's editorial independence has been questioned after its director of news stepped in and said that a speech made by Qatar's emir in the United Nations was the lead in its English channel's coverage of the debate on Syrian intervention.
Journalists had made a package of the UN debate, which had excerpts of President Barack Obama's speech as lead, when a last-minute instruction came from Salah Negm, the Qatar-based news director, who ordered the video to be re-edited and lead with the comments made by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Despite protests from staff that the emir's comments, a repetition of previous calls for Arab intervention in Syria, were not the most important aspect of the UN debate, the two-minute video was re-edited and Obama's speech was put at the end of the package.
According to the Guardian, the episode left a bitter feeling among staff amid complaints that this was the most heavy-handed editorial intervention at the global broadcaster.
An al-Jazeera spokesman said the emir's speech was "a significant development" that day and the broadcaster "consequently gave it prominence".
However, insiders said because none of the world leaders speaking at the UN had, or were, intending to take notice of the emir's comments, it was important to put the speech in the lead., the report said.
Al-Jazeera English was set up in 2006 by the Arabic broadcaster of the same name and both are owned by the Qatari state.
However, in recent years, Qatar has taken steps to consolidate its control over the channel as the country seeks greater political influence in the Gulf, the report added. (ANI)
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