Al-Jazeera sacks another English journalist
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story788.shtml
Posted: 2 January 2004 By: Jemima Kiss
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Former BBC journalist Shaista Aziz has become the second UK journalist to be
sacked by Al-Jazeera.net in two months.
Ms Aziz was an outspoken member of the Al-Jazeera team, opposing
controversial new staff contracts and pushing for union representation for
the group. She was given notice on 1 January.
The English-language web site has a team of 11 journalists, many recruited
from the BBC and the Guardian. Senior editor Yvonne Ridley, who helped to
launch the news site earlier this year, was sacked without warning in
November.
"Shaista Aziz brought in a rich seam of exclusive stories that were followed
up by the international media," said Ms Ridley.
"She was outspoken, feisty and extremely professional."
Jihad Ballout, spokesperson for Al-Jazeera, told dotJournalism that the
decision was made purely on the basis of Ms Aziz's professional ability.
"I have absolute respect for my ex-colleagues," he said.
"My understanding is that the editor-in-chief made an assessment after the
three-month probation and decided that perhaps she was not quite the right
person."
However, it has been claimed that several members of the newsroom staff were
present when Ahmed Sheikh, her immediate boss, told her recently that she
had successfully passed her probation.
Recently Ms Aziz had made a formal complaint of 'Islamophobia' and sexual
harassment against a male colleague. This case will not now be dealt with.
"There is a culture of fear and intimidation running through Al-Jazeera's
English web site," said Ms Ridley.
"Those journalists who stand up to this also happen to be the most talented.
I'm afraid journalistic integrity and skill appear to count for nothing."
Staff at the Doha-based broadcaster were said to be devastated by the
sacking of Ms Ridley, an experienced and well-respected journalist of more
than 25 years.
Ms Ridley has given power of attorney to her lawyers to take Al-Jazeera to
court for unfair dismissal.
"Despite my unfortunate experience, I still have lots of respect for the
Al-Jazeera name and those talented journalists on the web site and
television who strive for journalistic excellence," she said.
"But there are people employed in the newsrooms and in the administration
department who have no real journalistic background.
"They are to journalism what Herod was to child care."
The sacking is likely to fuel speculation that Al-Jazeera been pressurised
by the United States to tone down its news content. Staff on the
English-language site have alleged that news items were withdrawn after
phone calls from the White House.
"Everything in the world media is under pressure from the US government,"
said Mr Ballout.
"But Al-Jazeera has never succumbed to pressure."
dotJournalism headlines
http://www.journalism.co.uk/index.shtml
See also:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story769.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/profile6.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story753.html
