Al-Jazeera's "Double Standards" in the Arab Spring: A Peace Journalism Analysis (2011-2021)

Al-Jazeera's coverage of Bahrain and Syria has conformed with Qatar's foreign policy, adopting "double standards" and shifting from pro-Bahraini regime to pro-protesters during the 2017 Gulf crisis. This lack of "Peace Journalism" framing has justified military action against Syria and revealed distinctive differences between Al-Jazeera Arabic and English.

Format: Hardback
Length: 330 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into a comprehensive analysis of Al-Jazeera's coverage of Bahrain and Syria over the past decade (2011-2021). It reveals that Al-Jazeera Arabic has consistently aligned its reporting with Qatar's foreign policy objectives in both countries. During the early stages of the Arab Spring, Al-Jazeera adopted a "double standards" approach, portraying Bahrain's protests as a "sectarian movement" while simultaneously portraying the Syrian armed conflict as a legitimate "revolution."

As tensions between Qatar and Bahrain escalated during the 2017 Gulf crisis, Al-Jazeera Arabic underwent a significant shift in its coverage. It shifted from being pro-Bahraini regime to becoming pro-protesters, emphasizing violations and giving voice to activists. This change in narrative was evident in the media outlet's focus on the human rights abuses and injustices faced by the Bahraini people.

The book concludes that Al-Jazeera's lack of a "Peace Journalism" framing in its coverage of Bahrain's uprising and Syria's chemical weapons attacks has amounted to presenting "claims" as "facts," thereby justifying military action against Syria. This approach has contributed to the polarization of the conflict and the perpetuation of misinformation. Furthermore, the book highlights distinctive differences between Al-Jazeera Arabic and English. While the English version of the media outlet adheres to more objective reporting standards and employs less sectarian language, the Arabic version has been criticized for its bias and lack of impartiality.

Overall, this book provides a valuable insight into the role of Al-Jazeera in shaping public perception and influencing international discourse on the conflicts in Bahrain and Syria. It sheds light on the media outlet's adherence to political agendas and its contribution to the ongoing challenges facing these countries.

Weight: 591g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031142789
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022