The Al-Jazeera phenomenon The Qatar-based television news station Al-Jazeera ('the island') was established by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in November 1996. The Sheikh took power in 1995 at age 44 by coup, ousting his own father. As part of his sweeping changes Al- Jazeera was commissioned with a start-up grant of $137 million. The network was resurrected from the ashes of a failed venture between the BBC and Saudi Arabia. With its polished productions; …showed first 75 words of 1530 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1530 total…for Democracy? Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Volume: 21. Issue: 7. September-October 2002, Pg. 66. Reynolds, G., Alternative TV: The War through Arab Eyes. Al-Jazeera Has Been Ruffling Feathers Both Inside and outside the Arab World? The Christian Century, Volume: 120. Issue: 8. April 19, 2003. Pg. 8. Vesely, M., Al Jazeera Kicks Up a Sandstorm: The Middle East. July-August 2002. Pg.10, copyright Gale Group. Zednik, R., Inside Al Jazeera, Columbia Journalism Review. Volume: 40. Issue: 6. March-April 2002. Pg. 44, copyright 2002 Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism.