Al Jazeera America Thanks Its Loyal Viewers, Those Who The Channel Covered And Its Colleagues Across America And Around The World For Enabling It To Fulfill Its Mission Of Great Journalism

NEW YORK, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight Al Jazeera America will air its final live broadcast beginning at 6 pm ET and repeated again at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT for viewers on the West Coast.  The broadcast will include contributions from Al Jazeera America journalists who worked with the channel since its launch in 2013 and showcase the subjects of many of their reports.  

As its newsroom prepares for this retrospective, Al Jazeera America's CEO Al Anstey and President Kate O'Brian would like to thank the channel's viewers, the people that have been covered since the 2013 launch, and their colleagues at Al Jazeera America who have delivered extraordinary journalism that continues to be recognized with industry accolades, even as the channel goes off air tonight.  In a letter shared with colleagues, Anstey and O'Brian included the following:

Two and a half years ago we launched with a simple goal – to provide reliable, trusted information to audiences across the United States. Underpinning this mission was great journalism.  Never take a side. Dig for the real story. Explain it properly. Uncover stories. Uphold balance. Hold power to account. Have courage in covering unreported stories.  And, above all, act with integrity and be honest with our audiences.

Throughout our short history we have held true to this mission. We did so by putting the human being at the forefront of our editorial decisions: people across America and the world who are living the events taking place around them; people who are impacted by decisions made by governments, powerful individuals, or corporations. People who would not otherwise have a voice in mainstream media unless we covered them.

We have been privileged to cover stories of people who epitomize the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Individuals who have fought for good, who have tackled adversity, whose stories and voices deserve coverage.  There are so many more people across America whose stories remain untold. Those stories need to be heard.

It was because of our colleagues' remarkable dedication and skill that we've been able to carry out great journalism. Al Jazeera America has the most talented and diverse team any media organization could wish for.  So, as we enter our final day, we would like to pass on our sincere thanks, appreciation, and respect for your amazing work, and for your commitment to those we cover.

We all know good journalism is critical. It ensures information is reliable, and can be trusted. Good journalism doesn't mean opinion or spin. It is a responsibility which every media organization should carry with determination and resolve.  We are proud to have done so since our first to our final moment on air.

Since its launch in 2013, Al Jazeera America's US and international journalism, produced by 12 bureaus across the country, was recognized with nearly every major award an American broadcast and digital news organization can receive, including the Peabody, Emmy, and Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University awards. This recognition continued in the channel's last weeks, including with three nominations for the upcoming NAMIC Vision Awards.

After the channel goes off of the air tonight, viewers can continue to access the compelling stories produced by Al Jazeera America through visiting http://america.aljazeera.com/. 

Al Jazeera intends to expand its existing international digital services to broaden its multi-platform presence into the U.S. later this year.

Media Contacts
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SOURCE Al Jazeera America

Related Links

http://america.aljazeera.com