AJ+
Available inEnglish, Arabic, Spanish, French
Predecessor(s)Current TV (English), (Spanish) (originally occupied former building and studio)
HeadquartersWashington D.C.
Doha (Arabic only)
Country of originUnited States
(English, Spanish, French)
Qatar (Arabic)
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerAl Jazeera Media Network
Key people
  • Riyaad Minty
  • (Launch Leads)
  • Moeed Ahmad
  • (Launch Leads)
  • Dr Yaser Bishr
  • (Executive Director)
  • Dima Khatib
  • (Managing Director)
ServicesAJ+ English
Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Instagram
Medium

AJ+ Arabic
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
AJ+ Spanish
Facebook
Twitter

AJ+ French
Facebook
Twitter
URLajplus.net
LaunchedSoft launch:
June 13, 2014 (2014-06-13) (English)
April 23, 2015 (2015-04-23) (Spanish) November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30) (Arabic) December 4, 2017 (2017-12-04) (French)
Full launch
September 15, 2014 (2014-09-15) (English)

AJ+ (Al Jazeera Plus) is a social media publisher owned by Al Jazeera Media Network which focuses on news and current affairs. AJ+ content exists in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. It is available on its website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X, with written content on Medium.

Work on the channel started in December 2012, shortly after Al Jazeera established an office in San Francisco. The first YouTube channel went live on December 17, 2013. The channel then had a soft launch on June 13, 2014. A full launch followed on September 15, 2014.

History

Al Jazeera Media Network originally planned to launch an Internet-only TV channel in 2010 as part of its social media strategy but later became pre-occupied with the Arab Spring. Plans for an internet-only channel were re-launched upon the launch of Al Jazeera America when Al Jazeera Media Network had to geo-block most video from Al Jazeera English including the channel's live stream to satisfy concerns from cable and satellite providers in the United States. The move was met with dissatisfaction from both viewers and Al Jazeera English producers and hosts.[1]

Also with the purchase of Current TV to use for Al Jazeera America, AJMN acquired Current's former headquarters in San Francisco which was perfect for the type of channel Al Jazeera wanted to build being in the new media mecca of the San Francisco Bay Area and the building being already fitted to accommodate an online operation due to the original format of Current as a user-generated channel with heavy Internet integration.

In January 2012, members of the network's social media team relocated some of its staff to San Francisco to focus on building AJ+. After months of research and numerous pilots, the AJMN executive management were convinced of the project and providing funding and resources to scale. AJ+ is the first incubated project out Al Jazeera's Innovation & Incubation Department.[2]

In October 2013, it was announced that Al Jazeera Media Network would establish an Internet-only TV channel based entirely online called AJ+ based in San Francisco to launch sometime in 2014.[3] Led by a strategy team consisting of Riyaad Minty, Moeed Ahmad, and Muhammad Cajee, after a year of preparation the channel placed several test videos on YouTube in late 2013 followed by a soft launch in June 2014 with a full launch complete with a mobile app later in 2014.[4]

The channel was announced as launched on June 13, 2014, by Al Jazeera PR with several videos posted to YouTube and a new Facebook page which it refers to as the AJ+ Community along with a new-look website with an updated logo.[5] The channel was soft-launched during a presentation by Al Jazeera on new media at the Global Editors Network summit in Barcelona. The channel soft launched beginning with the tweet "We can confirm that this is our first official tweet. Because that's what real journalism is about. We're @AJPlus. Hello World :)".[6] The tweet was partly a pun of the first tweet sent out by the CIA earlier in the month.

In July 2014, the channel created a fellowship program and issued a call for fellows from five regions of the world in North America, South America, The Middle East, Europe, The Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa.[7] In August 2014, the channel branched out to Instagram.[8] On September 15, 2014, the channel launched fully with the release of its mobile app. The launch was attended by Al Jazeera Media Network Director General Mostefa Souag who stated "AJ reshaped media in 1996 when it launched, Sept 15th marks the new phase of change with AJ+".[9]

AJ+ Español soft-launched in April 2015 to start testing content in a different language. According to Variety, AJ+ became the second largest news video producer on Facebook, after NowThis News, in June 2015.[2] They are the ninth largest video producer on the platform overall.[10] On August 12, 2015, AJ+ announced the appointment of its first managing director, Dima Khatib.[11] That same month, AJ+ also released data showing that it has a 600% engagement rate on Facebook, making the network's Facebook page one of the most engaged news brands in the world.[12][13] As of April 2018, its Facebook page had obtained over ten million 'likes' from users. In October 2015, AJ+ announced that the channel had reached over one billion views across its platforms.[14]

In 2017, AJ+ launched a French-language version of the service. In 2018, the English version of the channel moved its operations to Washington D.C. In April 2018, AJ+ ended the use of its mobile apps, moving to content distribution over its website, various social media and YouTube. In September 2020, AJ+ was asked to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in the United States with the Trump Administration charging that the channel has engaged in political activities, backed by the royal family of Qatar.[15] Al Jazeera condemned the decision and linked it to the results of 3 years long lobbying fulfilled following the signing of Israel–United Arab Emirates peace agreement.[16]

Format

AJ+ produces video and media directly to social platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram), through native apps on mobile devices (iOS and Android) and smart TV platforms (Apple TV,[17] Android TV,[18] and Amazon Fire TV).

AJ+ is separate from Al Jazeera's other cable and satellite news channels, though it shares the network's current 68 bureaus with the other channels.

The channel is headquartered in Washington D.C. Originally, it was headquartered San Francisco, California, in the expanded former headquarters and studio of Current TV. The channel has branch offices in Doha, Qatar, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi.[19] It also collects and creates content through freelancers in other areas of interest.[20]

Despite being based in the United States, the content of the channel is formatted for a global audience similar to Al Jazeera English. The channel has no hosts or anchors, and live reporting plays a lesser role. Most content is available on demand.[21][22]

AJ+ offers news coverage from around the world, and also covers topics like lifestyle, culture and technology with very little text. Its videos range from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.[23]

The channel is experimenting with various storytelling formats.[24] It supports a high level of user interactions in the app and its Facebook, YouTube and Twitter platforms as well.[25]

An Arabic-language version of AJ+ was launched in 2015.[26] There is also a test Spanish version of the channel based out of San Francisco.[27]

Videos from the channel are occasionally featured on the websites of Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera America, before its closure, as a further in-depth feature of that website if the site is covering the same topic.[28][29]

Video format

  • Real Time - Breaking and topical news published directly to social feeds, ranging in length from 30 seconds to three minutes
  • In Depth - Video features, contextual background pieces, monthly themes, and shows
    • Animated Explainers
    • Satire
    • Current Events
    • AJ+ Asks
  • Short Docs - documentaries generally ranging in length from 6–10 minutes
  • Video Journalists - Correspondent pieces shot on location around the world.
  • TED & AJ+ - explainers in cooperation with TED

Presenters

  • Dena Takruri – Senior presenter/producer
  • Francesca Fiorentini – Senior presenter/producer
  • Sana Saeed – Presenter/producer
  • Imaeyen Ibanga – Presenter/producer
  • Yara Elmjouie – Host and Producer
  • Gelareh Darabi – Presenter
  • Tamim al-Barghouti (Arabic)
  • Nickolas Khouri (Arabic)
  • Bisher Najjar (Arabic)

Former presenters

AJ+ occasionally features Al Jazeera English and before shutdown Al Jazeera America correspondents depending upon what story they are covering.

Former mobile app

The AJ+ Mobile App launched in September 2014 on iOS and Android platforms which was used until April 2018. The app employed a card and stack structure for navigation, and focuses primarily on user and social engagement.

Awards and honors

  • In 2015, AJ+ won a Webby Award for Online Film & Video, News & Information [31]
  • At the 2015 Webby Awards, AJ+ was also honored in the categories of
    • Online Film & Video, News & Politics: Individual Episode (Ayotzinapa Student Killings Ignite Mexico and the Internet) [32]
    • Online Film & Video, Documentary: Series (AJ+ Short Docs)[33]
    • Mobile Sites & Apps, News (AJ+ Mobile App)[34]
  • In 2015, the AJ+ Mobile App was a finalist for the Society for News Design's World's Best Digital Design award [35]

Controversy

AJ+ has come under criticism, especially from American conservatives and pro-Israel publications, for a perceived anti-American, anti-Israeli, and pro-leftist slant in its reporting.[36][37][38]

The French National Audiovisual Institute has criticized AJ+ for its practice of generating viewer engagement through what it sees as one-sided reporting on emotional topics. The institute claims that 3/4 of AJ+ posts on Twitter mentioned the Israeli–Palestinian conflict or racism and police violence in the Western world, and that the alleged editorial line of the channel serves to further the ideological influence of Qatar and presents ideological similarities with the Muslim Brotherhood.[39][40]

2019 Holocaust denial video

In 2019, AJ+ produced and published an Arabic-language video that denied and minimized the Holocaust, asserting that the global Jewish community uses "financial resources [and] media institutions" to exaggerate Jewish suffering for the benefit of the State of Israel. The video was caught and translated into English by the American non-profit think tank Middle East Media Research Institute, sparking widespread outcry against Al Jazeera and condemnation from Israeli government officials. In response, Al Jazeera took down the video and suspended two of its journalists. The video stated that "[the] number [of Jews murdered in the Holocaust] had been exaggerated and 'adopted by the Zionist movement', and that Israel is the 'biggest winner' from the genocide."[41] The video also renewed long-standing criticism of the differences between Al Jazeera's Arabic content and English content; critics have stated that the organization adheres to a liberal, left-wing, and secularist approach with its English content and a conservative, right-wing, and Islamist approach in its Arabic content.[41][42][43][44]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Janko Roettgers. "An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at AJ+, Al Jazeera's upcoming online news network". Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Janko Roettgers (July 30, 2015). "Al Jazeera's AJ+ Finds Millions Of Eyeballs on Facebook". Variety. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "PR News: Top Public Relations, Marketing and Social Media Blog". everything-pr.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ Janko Roettgers. "Al Jazeera's AJ+ publishes first videos on YouTube". Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Look inside the AJ+ lab".
  6. ↑ "AJ+ on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "AJ+ Fellowship Program". Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ "AJ+ (@ajplus) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ Riyaad Minty (September 15, 2014). "DG of @AlJazeera - AJ reshaped media in 1996 when it launched - Sept 15th marks the new phase of change with @ajplus". Twitter. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Biggest Facebook Video Publishers In June | The Whip". Blog.newswhip.com. June 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Photo credit: Issak Photography Al Jazeera Media". Pr.aljazeera.com. August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  12. ↑ "How AJ+ reaches 600% of its audience on Facebook | Media news". Journalism.co.uk. August 5, 2015. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ 4 Aug 2015 (August 4, 2015). "Al Jazeera PR on Twitter: "Did you know on @Facebook, more people are engaging with @ajplus than @BBCNews @CNN and @vicenews combined. t.co/TMhHHWYIDZ"". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "AJ+ passes one billion milestone". Digital TV Europe. October 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Orders Al Jazeera Affiliate to Register as Foreign Agent". The New York Times. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Al Jazeera condemns AJ+ FARA registration order in US". Al Jazeera. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Al Jazeera's AJ+ Gets its Own Apple TV App". January 19, 2016. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  18. ↑ "AJ+ Releases Android TV App, Expanding Its Presence on the Big Screen". April 4, 2018. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  19. ↑ Janko Roettgers. "Al Jazeera is staffing up for the launch of its AJ+ online video news network". Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  20. ↑ Reid, Alastair (April 17, 2015). "Beyond websites: How AJ+ is innovating in digital storytelling". Journalism.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  21. ↑ "A look at AJ+ - al Jazeera's unique approach to engaging with millennials". January 26, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Al Jazeera just soft-launched its AJ+ online video network". June 13, 2014. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Female illustrator gives 'oversexualised niqabi superhero' a makeover". Pakistan Today. September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  24. ↑ Hadas Gold (November 22, 2013). "Al Jazeera looks to online news with AJ+". Politico. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  25. ↑ "How Al Jazeera's AJ+ aims to engage millennials". September 15, 2014. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  26. ↑ Roettgers, Janko (July 30, 2015). "How Al Jazeera's AJ+ Became One of the Biggest Video Publishers on Facebook". Variety. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  27. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (July 1, 2016). "New Al Jazeera Digital Division Chief on How Facebook, Google, Control News (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Hong Kong students demonstrate the art of protest | Al Jazeera America". America.aljazeera.com. October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Bhopal tragedy: Toxic legacy of the world's worst industrial disaster | Al Jazeera America". America.aljazeera.com. December 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Al Jazeera America Launches Debate Program "Third Rail" With Host Imran Garda | Al Jazeera America". America.aljazeera.com. May 14, 2015. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  31. ↑ "AJ+". The Webby Awards. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Ayotzinapa Student Killings Ignite Mexico and the Internet". The Webby Awards. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  33. ↑ "AJ+ Short Docs". The Webby Awards. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  34. ↑ "AJ+". The Webby Awards. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  35. ↑ "World's Best-Designed Digital Finalists | SNDDC 2015 Workshop". Snd.org. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  36. ↑ "How Al Jazeera Dresses Up Its Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism for an English-Speaking Audience » Mosaic". Mosaic. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  37. ↑ "OUCHIE! Caleb Howe ZINGS Leftist rag still claiming no known motive for San Bernardino a year ago". December 2, 2016. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  38. ↑ "AJ is Lying to You". Camera on Campus. 2016. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  39. ↑ "AJ+ : Derrière la modernité, le média d'influence du Qatar" (in French). Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  40. ↑ ""AJ+ français" : Quand la propagande du Qatar se cache derrière un progressisme féministe et LGBT" (in French). April 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  41. 1 2 Fathalla, Amira (May 20, 2019). "Al Jazeera suspends journalists for Holocaust denial video". BBC. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022. Al Jazeera English is known to audiences worldwide for its varied coverage, which often sheds light on underreported stories. But its reporting - which only occasionally hints at the affiliations of its Qatari owners - comes in stark contrast to Al Jazeera Arabic. AJA's obvious stance on key regional crises and rivalries heavily colours its output. Its friendly coverage of Islamist groups - particularly favouring those aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood - came to the fore particularly with the 2011 uprisings in the region. Some of its correspondents have adopted a still harder line. In 2015, prominent anchor Ahmed Mansour offered a sympathetic account of the activities of al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate in a lengthy interview with its leader. Since a major rift between Gulf states erupted in 2017, AJA's coverage has also shifted closer to Iran.
  42. ↑ "Al Jazeera English vs. Al Jazeera Arabic: One channel, two messages". Al Arabiya. May 20, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Aljazeera: One Organization, Two Messages | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  44. ↑ Greenslade, Roy (February 26, 2014). "Al-Jazeera English is not Al-Jazeera Arabic - but Egypt doesn't agree". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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