Al Jazeera English’s Leadership Addresses Staff Amid Controversy

GENEVA — The head of Al Jazeera English has advised employees to refrain from appearing to engage in political demonstrations. This comes after a reporter’s involvement in a march advocating for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest drew scrutiny.

Journalists at the Qatari-funded outlet have faced criticism for their perceived bias, labeled as “spokespeople for Hamas” by various Israeli officials. This tension resurfaced after reporter Charlie Angela broadcasted footage of a significant protest in Vienna, where around 2,000 people demanded that Israeli singer Noam Bettan be removed from the competition.

Angela’s coverage captured far-left activists, some adorned with Palestinian keffiyehs, holding signs that declared, “Zionism and occupation have no platform!”

In her report, Angela initially positioned herself in front of the protesters, accusing Eurovision of “normalizing war crimes” through Israel’s participation. Shortly thereafter, she walked alongside the demonstrators for a brief period.

Israel is set to take part in Eurovision because its public broadcaster is affiliated with the European Broadcasting Union organizing the event.

As Angela reported, she mingled with the protesters for around 20 seconds before stopping again in the midst of her segment shared online shortly after midday on May 16.

Later that day, Ibrahim Helal, the news director of Al Jazeera English, circulated a memo to staff, prompting reactions within the network. He stated that while it is acceptable for correspondents to speak with demonstrators when necessary, they should not give the impression of being participants in the protests themselves. He marked it as “unacceptable” to walk alongside the marchers as if part of the crowd.

Helal emphasized the need to maintain a professional distance, stating, “As we cover marches, protests, and demonstrations around the world, we must remember that our job is to report, not to appear as supporters of their causes.” He noted that the boundaries between activism and journalism are increasingly becoming blurred, urging correspondents to keep a clear visual and editorial separation from the events they cover.

The memo did not specifically reference Angela’s part in the anti-Israel march, which left many in the newsroom puzzled.

One long-time Al Jazeera employee reflected, “We really didn’t understand what it was about. At that moment, all eyes were on the Israel-Iran conflict, and the headlines were filled with various crises. Given the timing and the conversations about Eurovision, I figured Helal wasn’t addressing the Ebola protests.”

In the recent Eurovision competition, Israel finished second to Bulgaria. While the contest may not grab as much attention in the U.S., it attracts millions of viewers globally. Critics, particularly during these times, have called for Israel’s disqualification from the event due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Another insider noted that the general sentiment in the facility suggested Israel shouldn’t have taken part. Following the results, there was a prevailing sense of relief when Israel didn’t win, even if they placed second. “It felt like a shared sentiment,” the source remarked.

In April, it was disclosed that Al Jazeera established a clandestine backup studio in Doha, fearing missile and cyber threats amid the escalating conflict involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

Though Al Jazeera’s reporters defend their journalistic independence, they have been accused by critics, especially from Israeli officials, of being sympathetic to Iran and its affiliates, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

“Al Jazeera was the only international network granted unrestricted access to high-ranking Iranian officials during the conflict,” an executive with the network asserted.

In February, an exposed copy of Al Jazeera’s style guide indicated that referring to the Islamic State as a terrorist group was strictly forbidden, along with any mention of the term “Islamist.”

Helal, a former BBC editor, faced accusations for his management style during his tenure at Al Jazeera during significant events, such as 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, drawing ire from the U.S. government for airing footage that was deemed inflammatory.

A former colleague of Helal’s attempted to sue the network, claiming discrimination based on gender, race, and religion, although this litigation was unsuccessful.

As a side note, Steve Clark, the network’s ex-news director, described Helal’s management style as akin to “Saddam Hussein,” echoing the criticisms within the inner workings of the organization.

The newspaper reached out to Al Jazeera for additional comments.