Al Jazeera America — due to formally launch on Aug. 20 — is starting up a documentary department with plans to focus on issues related to immigration, poverty, education, health care and the justice system.
And if history repeats, the tone of the reports will lean decidedly left.
The network said it will cover the issues with an “unwavering commitment to create groundbreaking, award-winning programming told from the human side of the story,” said a senior vice president with Al Jazeera.
Previous Al Jazeera documentaries have taken a decided liberal tone.
In November 2011, the network produced a documentary entitled, “A Call Against Arms,” which explored how the “tiny South Korean island of Jeju has been called the ’Island of Peace,’ but could a new naval base endanger that?”
In March 2012, they produced one on the Koch Brothers, asking “why the billionaire siblings are spending a fortune in support of a conservative political agenda.”
SEE ALSO: Al Jazeera America announces 12 new bureaus, correspondents in massive expansion
And another one, in September 2010 called “White Power USA,” questioned: “Is the U.S. heading toward a future of racial intolerance or racially-motivated violence?”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.