Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DOHA647
2008-09-09 05:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
AL JAZEERA TO AIR 9/11 CONSPIRACY DOCUMENTARY;
how-toVZCZCXRO8232 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHDO #0647 2530530 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 090530Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8205 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL JAZEERA TO AIR 9/11 CONSPIRACY DOCUMENTARY;
CLAIMS EDITORIAL BALANCE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH E. LEBARON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
).
--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- Al Jazeera plans to air on its documentary channel
September 10 a German program presenting conspiracy theories
about the 9/11 attacks.
-- PAO contacted Al Jazeera Director General Wadah Khanfar
to get more information about the documentary and to
communicate Embassy's concern that the "documentary" will be
unbalanced and sensationalistic.
-- Khanfar said that the Arabic voice-over will be
"editorially balanced." Khanfar said the narration would
make it clear to viewers that these were conspiracy theories
that the documentary would serve to discredit.
------------
(C) COMMENTS
------------
-- The fact that Al Jazeera has decided to air this
"documentary" demonstrates that the channel continues to
indulge intermittently in sensationalism that will win no
allies in its bid to expand into North American markets.
Such actions could well reinforce the belief that Al Jazeera
is more interested in feeding stereotypes than countering
them.
End Key Points and Comments.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL JAZEERA TO AIR 9/11 CONSPIRACY DOCUMENTARY;
CLAIMS EDITORIAL BALANCE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH E. LEBARON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
).
--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- Al Jazeera plans to air on its documentary channel
September 10 a German program presenting conspiracy theories
about the 9/11 attacks.
-- PAO contacted Al Jazeera Director General Wadah Khanfar
to get more information about the documentary and to
communicate Embassy's concern that the "documentary" will be
unbalanced and sensationalistic.
-- Khanfar said that the Arabic voice-over will be
"editorially balanced." Khanfar said the narration would
make it clear to viewers that these were conspiracy theories
that the documentary would serve to discredit.
--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------
-- The fact that Al Jazeera has decided to air this
"documentary" demonstrates that the channel continues to
indulge intermittently in sensationalism that will win no
allies in its bid to expand into North American markets.
Such actions could well reinforce the belief that Al Jazeera
is more interested in feeding stereotypes than countering
them.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (C) PAO telephoned Al Jazeera Director General Wadah
Khanfar on September 3, requesting an explanation of a
promotion aired on Al Jazeera Arabic that day for a program
that will run September 10 on the Al Jazeera Documentary
channel called "The Other September." According to the
promotion, the program will present alternate theories about
the 9/11 attacks against the United States.
2. (C) Khanfar replied that he had not actually seen the
documentary, which was produced by a German company, but that
he had directed the AJ Documentary staff to provide a
narrative voice-over that was "editorially balanced." Asked
what that meant, Khanfar said the narration would make it
clear to viewers that these were conspiracy theories that the
documentary would serve to discredit.
3. (U) The Al Jazeera documentary channel airs
Arabic-narrated programs produced elsewhere, notably Europe
and the United States, and its general presentation is not
unlike the History Channel in the United States.
LeBaron
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL JAZEERA TO AIR 9/11 CONSPIRACY DOCUMENTARY;
CLAIMS EDITORIAL BALANCE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH E. LEBARON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
).
--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- Al Jazeera plans to air on its documentary channel
September 10 a German program presenting conspiracy theories
about the 9/11 attacks.
-- PAO contacted Al Jazeera Director General Wadah Khanfar
to get more information about the documentary and to
communicate Embassy's concern that the "documentary" will be
unbalanced and sensationalistic.
-- Khanfar said that the Arabic voice-over will be
"editorially balanced." Khanfar said the narration would
make it clear to viewers that these were conspiracy theories
that the documentary would serve to discredit.
--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------
-- The fact that Al Jazeera has decided to air this
"documentary" demonstrates that the channel continues to
indulge intermittently in sensationalism that will win no
allies in its bid to expand into North American markets.
Such actions could well reinforce the belief that Al Jazeera
is more interested in feeding stereotypes than countering
them.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (C) PAO telephoned Al Jazeera Director General Wadah
Khanfar on September 3, requesting an explanation of a
promotion aired on Al Jazeera Arabic that day for a program
that will run September 10 on the Al Jazeera Documentary
channel called "The Other September." According to the
promotion, the program will present alternate theories about
the 9/11 attacks against the United States.
2. (C) Khanfar replied that he had not actually seen the
documentary, which was produced by a German company, but that
he had directed the AJ Documentary staff to provide a
narrative voice-over that was "editorially balanced." Asked
what that meant, Khanfar said the narration would make it
clear to viewers that these were conspiracy theories that the
documentary would serve to discredit.
3. (U) The Al Jazeera documentary channel airs
Arabic-narrated programs produced elsewhere, notably Europe
and the United States, and its general presentation is not
unlike the History Channel in the United States.
LeBaron