All is Not Well inside Al Jazeera America

All is Not Well inside Al Jazeera America

This was an email that was sent by one of Al Jazeera’s top journalists Marwan Bishara to the management. Needless to say, we don't think happy with how things are going to far.

The channel is expected to sign on the air next month. 

Here's the email: 

Sent: 10 July 2013 15:30

To: Salah Negm; Ehab Alshihabi; Al Anstey; Mostefa Souag; Khalid Ali Johar

Subject: To Rectify the Mistakes with AJAM

To Rectify the Mistakes with AJAM

The next few weeks and months carry with them the daunting task of launching a new and successful Al Jazeera channel in the US. And we must give it our all to make it fulfill the promise of the mother company.

I started writing this email with bitterness and disappointment.

Read the rest of this  Looooooong email after the jump.

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Kate Plus 8 Thousand Members of the Media

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Forget the Zimmerman Trial, the unrest in Egypt or the NSA Leaker, the media is poised for the biggest story of the Summer. 

The coverage of the Royal Baby. 

Media across the world are camped out waiting for Kate Middleton to arrive at the hospital and give birth to the most famous baby since Kim Kardashian spit out North Pole (or whatever his name is).

Of course the news will not be official until Buckingham Palace says it is.

The Palace will be where the world will learn about the Royal Baby.

The birth notice will be taken by car to the Palace and posted on an easel by the gates for all to see. It will be the most watched easel since Tim Russsert tried to explain to viewers the election in 2000. 

All the media will go overboard with coverage and the Royal Baby will become a royal pain in the ass for people trying to escape the coverage. 

The big news is the Royal Baby will one day be the King or Queen of England. 

Kim Kardashian's kid will one day make a sex tape (most like using the name "North Pole" ....get it? North Pole? Never mind)

Is this a great country or what. 

Chicago Anchor Re-ups

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FTVLive reported that WBBM in Chicago had been quietly looking for a possible replacement for main Anchor Rob Johnson. 

Sources told FTVLive that the station had reached out to agents and others in the industry looking for a possible replacement for the CBS O&O anchorman. 

But as Robert Feder reports Johnson and WBBM have struck a new deal. 

Feder writes that Johnson has agreed to a multiyear renewal with CBS 2 to continue as 5, 6 and 10 p.m. weekday news anchor. His co-anchor on all three newscasts is Kate Sullivan.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and some speculate that Johnson may have taken a cut in pay or no raise.

Johnson confirmed the extension negotiated between his agent and bosses of the CBS-owned station. 

"My philosophy is to not make my personal business public," Johnson told Feder. "But given the multiple inaccuracies that have been reported, I am happy to report that I'm going to sign a multiyear contract with CBS to continue the great work we're doing. And I couldn't be happier."

Media Scramble to Land Zimmerman Interview

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The George Zimmerman trial is over and now the the battle for "Get George" moves into full gear.

Local and national media outlets are doing their best to land the first interview with Zimmerman since he was acquitted on murder charges.  

Zimmerman's lawyer Mark O'Mara says that his client will talk at some point "on his terms, at his time, when he's ready."

But O'Mara adds that Zimmerman needs a break after "a 16-month traumatic event." 

Who will get the first Zimmerman interview?

Fox News and Sean Hannity would seem the probable winner. Hannity already sat down with Zimmerman before the trial and that interview was used during the trial. 

It is also possible that Zimmerman may ditch the traditional media and go to someone that will pay him big bucks to tell his story.

The one media outlet that likely has no chance is NBC. 

Zimmerman has an ongoing defamation suit against the network, when in December he claims that NBC and its Miami station, WTVJ, falsely depicted him as a racist in five reports. 

NBC is fighting the charges. 

Pilots Names Were Released Last Week

Pilots Names Were Released Last Week

It was bad enough that KTVU fell for the fake names of the flight crew of Asiana Airlines.

In their apology the station claims they never said the names out loud before they hit the air.

But, they did say that they got confirmation of the fake names after calling the NTSB.  Which makes us wonder.....when the called Washington and talked to the "Summer intern", didn't they have to say the names out loud over the phone?

Did the person that made that call not hear what they were saying, when they read the names off? 

It didn't long after the names were read on the station's noon newscast for KTVU news producer Brad Belstock to figure out that they had been pranked.

FTVLive does not know what Belstock's role was, if any in the colossal screw up, but shortly after the story hit the air, Belstock sent out this tweet:

Read the rest after the jump, plus the one thing that is sure to make you scratch your head.  

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Not Again!

KTVU wasn't the only one to duped by a fake name, you can add Gannett owned USA Today to the list as well. 

In a story posted on WXIA's (Atlanta) website about the Zimmerman verdict, the paper talked to citizens for reaction.

One person the paper talked to was a person claiming his name was Howie Felterbush (How he felt her bush). Here is a screen shot in case WXIA gets smart enough to pull the story: 

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It seems the media continues to get punked by fake names. It is not such a big deal when it happens while covering a city council meeting, but when it is on a major story like a plane crash or a high profile trial it becomes a huge dent in the outlets credibility. 

Word of advice, say the person's name out loud and slowly. Because you never know who's trying to punk you.

Just saying....  

Ummmm...Not Really Chris

When the KTVU Anchor Tori Campbell read the fakes names of the flight crew aboard Asiana Airlines Flight 214, a number of anchors contacted FTVLive wondering how she didn't catch it?

Of course it wasn't Campbell's fault that she was given a cold script to read on the air, but you would have thought that after the first two names, "Captain Sum Ting Wong and Wi Tu Lo"  she would have gotten the prank?

She didn't and the station was left with so much egg on their face they could open a Denny's. 

But, MSNBC's Chris Hayes says it wasn't her fault. He tweeted this out after seeing the video:  

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We have to strongly disagree with Chris Hayes and his assessment. Yes...we have worked with anchors that are nothing more than pretty faces that can read the words off a prompter.

But, we also worked with many anchors that not only read the words, but actually knew what they were saying.

If and anchor is just reading the words off the prompter that anchor should be fired or at least have they pay cut in half. The anchor is most often the highest paid person in the newsroom. The station deserves someone that is more than just mouthpiece.  

Maybe that's why MSNBC is struggling so much in the ratings. 

Just saying....  

 

Minneapolis Anchor Wants his Twinkies (Updated)

As of Today Twinkies are back on store shelves and WCCO Anchor Jason DeRusha is Jonesin to get his hands on some.  

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DeRusha read this story on the station's morning newscast and now he wants some Twinkies. No word yet if a viewer has found the cakes and made it to the station to claim their $20. 

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Update: The Anchor Got his Twinkies and the viewer got his 20 spot (which we doubt he will use the money on a razor) 

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Airline My Sue San Francisco Station

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More bad new for KTVU in San Francisco as Asiana Airlines says they are looking at taking legal action against the station.

On Friday, KTVU ruined the station's reputation in the matter of a few seconds when they reported racist fake names as the flight crew of the Asiana Airlines jet that crash landed at San Francisco airport.

The station has apologized for the mistake, but the airline said it is still considering legal action.  

Asiana Airlines claims its reputation was damaged by the report. 

KTVU identified the pilots of the Boeing 777 that crashed on July 6 as “Sum Ting Wong,” “Wi Tu Lo,” “Ho Lee Fuk” and “Bang Ding Ow.”

KTVU cited the National Transportation Safety Board as confirming the names, the NTSB  says a summer intern erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew.

An Asiana statement said it is mulling legal measures against both KTVU and the NTSB because the report “badly damaged” the reputation of the airline and its pilots.

Stay tuned....