Vermont (including Burlington) is not nearly as conservative as they like to think of themselves.

They also like to complain…a lot.

Burlington can be a great town, I guess. If you like mediocre food, little entertainment, a homogenized and pedestrian music scene and drinking, because there’s very little to do that you can’t find much, much better someplace else. In winter, it is a pit of slush and you would do well to avoid it.

If it’s the scenery and quiet, laid-back thing you’re looking for, go to Stowe or any of the small towns that dot Vermont. Burlington is overrated.

Compared to other major international news stations (BBC international; CNN international; France 24..), Al Jazeera English offers the widest coverage of stories in all regions of the world. (I won’t mention the U.S. networks, which, as far as international stories go, are barely worthy of being regarded as genuine news sources) Its coverage of Africa is at least comparable to that of the BBC and its coverage of the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America is more extensive than that of any of other stations, all of which I have watched. Stories are often longer and more in depth than those aired by the other majors. If you want to get a sense of major developments in places like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Irag, China, …(and yes, even Israel, Al Jazeera is overall the best English-language network to watch.

I have found the reporting on Al Jazeera English to be very objective. Unlike their counterparts on American stations, Al Jazeera commentators do not try to be ‘entertainers’ and normally refrain from the editorialising via sighs, pauses, and other theatrical gestures that you see all too often on American stations. I too find it difficult to believe that any honest person who really had watched Al Jazeera English (while sober) could make the assertions advanced by one of the earlier writers here.

A few minutes ago, I watched a several minute segment on the latest glitch in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The reporting stuck to the facts, on both sides: that Israel closed the crossings into Gaza after rocket attacks by a (non-Hamas) faction in Gaza; and that those responsible for the rockets claimed that they were in response to Israel attacks on members of their group in the West Bank. Just the facts. The story was followed by an equally objective story on recent killings of civilians by American soldiers. It mentioned the anger of many Iraquis about these deaths but it also clearly reported that the deaths occurred in the course of raids or other combat and reported the justifications given by American military authorities.

It would not be possible to show the Iraq story on an American station, of course. The Al Jazeera story showed bodies of some of those killed, which violates the injunction against disturbing Americans by showing them what war really involves. Even without the bodies, even hints that Iraqis might be less than thrilled with the American presence is something that major U.S news outlets seem to deem inappropriate for broadcast.

This is really the problem. News and objective informed discussion in the media have become so limited that something more objective and in-depth seems alien, like it has come from another planet. Too many people believe that truth, if it is unpalatable, is propaganda; that reality is unpatriotic if it doesn’t fit preconceptions. (I am always struck when I return to the U.S. by how much public debate of key issues is restricted by political correctness and ‘things we all know’). Opposition to Al Jazeera Enlish also fits with the broader Islamophobia that unfortunately has become all too widespread in the U.S.

Retention of Al Jazeera English by Burlington would be a small step, but a useful one, toward a more rational approach to understanding the rest of the world. So I hope they will do the right thing.

Al Jazeera English has excelled at the 17th Amnesty International UK Media Awards announced in London on 17th June . The awards recognise excellence in human rights reporting and acknowledge journalism’s significant contribution to the UK public’s awareness and understanding of human rights issues. In the category of International television and radioAl Jazeera English’s entry “The lost tribe - Secret army of the CIA” was declared the winner. The team which contributed in the production of this documentray comprised Eunice Lau, Stephanie Scawen, Tricia Tan and Tony Birtley.

The other two contestants short-listed were:
Assignment: Louisiana burning, BBC World Service - Joanna Mills, Jeremy Skeet, Mike Williams Inside Myanmar - the crackdown, Al Jazeera English - Tony Birtley, Lucy Keating, Marcus Cheek, Badrul Hisham.

Those serving on the Amnesty’s panel of judges for entries in the category of International television and radio were Mike Blakemore, Katherine Butler, Tim Marshall, Naresh Puri and Tim Singleton.

It may be recalled that on 10th June 2008, the award for “Best 24 Hour News Program” at the 48th Monte Carlo Television Festival conferred upon Al Jazeera English is not an aberration, but, one in a series of accomplishments scored by a news channel launched only in November 2006. The award recognized Al Jazeera English’s “extensive international reach and efforts to dig deeper to give its international audience a richer understanding of the events that affect their lives.” Al Jazeera English beat entries from BBC News, Sky News, Lisboa TV and the Phoenix Satellite Television Company to take home the award.

Even a cursory glance at AJE’s accomplishments since its launch Al Jazeera English has proved it to be a unique news channel, winning a number of nominations in recognition of its professional quality and technical accomplishments. This also shows AJE’s potential to set new standards in the coming years:

Al Jazeera English’s Far East Correspondent Hamish Macdonald won Royal Television Society’’s Young Journalist of the Year Award for 2007 while it’s Africa correspondent Haru Mutasa was also among the three nominees.

Al Jazeera English was nominated for news channel of the year in its first year of broadcasting and was up against BBC News 24 and 2006’s winner Sky News. The awards were presented on 20 February 2008 at a ceremony at the London Hilton, hosted by ITV News at Ten’s Julie Etchingham. Over all, Aljazeera English won Royal Television Society Television Journalism Award nominations in the following categories: News - International Afghanistan: Taliban Embed - Al Jazeera English News Hour Al Jazeera English News Channel of the Year Al Jazeera English Young Journalist of the Year Hamish Macdonald - Al Jazeera English News Hour Al Jazeera English Haru Mutasa - Al Jazeera English News Hour Al Jazeera English.

At the 12th Asian Television 2007 Awards, it won the award for Best Single News/Report (Kylie Grey, Orange) Environment Special, and came runners-up for Best news programme Half Hour Bulletin-from Kula Lumpur.

Additionally, Al Jazeera English has won three awards at the BDA World Gold Awards. AJE was presented with three Bronze trophies at the 2007 PROMAX & BDA International Conference in New York 14 June 2007 in the categories of Art Direction & Design: Topical Campaign

An even-handed approach to judge a news channel is to look at its demerits and merits. Are there some commentators overwhelmed by an urge to become an executioner before even pretending to be judge and jury? In Aljazeera’s case, many critics with a disposition to dismiss everything new, haste to pass a judgement prior to looking at it sufficiently enough and objectively enough.

An informed viewer should always consider the source when viewing any news broadcasts. I am a conservative evangelical christian and I disagree with much of what Al-Jazeera says but I check their website regularly to get a view ‘from the other side’. I find it very informative.

I wholeheartedly agree with “GreenvilleRoad”: FTA Satellite really is the way to go if you want to get any real information since most cable and satellite carriers are only interested in carrying the fluff that make them real money. Why do you think many channels on pay tv services are shopping channels? Count them and see.

FTA Satellite can be fun to play with, too. Finding all the goofy, strange and wonderful wild feeds can be a good time waster on a cold, snowy winter night.

I just wish cable and satellite were ala-carte so I could pick and choose the channels I wanted to watch. Weather Channel, Cartoon Network, Food Network, Starz/Encore, TBS, TNT, BBC America, Sci-Fi and a small selection of news stations would be about it for me. Oh, the days of ala-carte C-band!

I don’t see where this is even a politically biased posting. It is about public opinion on a channel broadcast via a public utility. The public has a right to voice its opinion on this issue and it has to be taken seriously. Can the same be said for Time Worthless or Comcrap? Heck no! This is a highly unusual event…how many community-owned cable systems are in the US? Not many.

Instead of partisan posturing (which, if desired, is easily obtained on one of a myriad of news aggregate sites), how about more posts about music, art, bizarre history, etc.?

Please, for the luvva, stop with the politics. PLEASE.

My apologies. I knew it was Adam, I meant to write Adam, I thought I wrote Adam, but… And it wasn’t even that late!

Really, it’s not that difficult. I don’t go around trying to ban the Bible-thumping stations or the sports stations just because I don’t like them. I just change the channel!

If you answered yes, then al-Jazeera must be allowed.
If you answered no, then you not a patriotic American.

A conundrum for all you right-wingers!

I’ll be more than willing to help any persons interested in FTA Satellite. Click the link to my site and leave me a comment so I can contact you.

Your friend: A white Yeshua praising southerner from Kentucky

was i ever wrong.

al jazeera doesn’t hold anything back. it airs facts on the ground and also opinions from all sides, without censorship. this is why the network has been banned in many arab countries and is so loathed by many in the bush administration.

here is a review of the book “Al-Jazeera: The Inside Story Of The Arab News Channel That Is Challenging The West” by Hugh Miles

The Al-Jazeera television network has been called many things, usually not very complimentary. The Israeli government says it is anti-Israeli, the Syrians call it a Zionist front. Some Arabs say it is a CIA plot, while U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has accused it of “working in concert with terrorists” and “consistently lying.” The upstart Qatar network’s remarkable story is now finally told in journalist Hugh Miles’s book Al-Jazeera. Miles, an Arabic-speaking British journalist born in Saudi Arabia, tells how Qatar’s liberal young emir, Sheikh Hamad, created Al-Jazeera in 1996, a year after coming to power in a coup against his own father. Shekh Hamad stunned the Arab world by liberalizing the country, giving women the vote, introducing limited democracy, and ending press censorship. Other Arab media outlets slavishly kowtowed to their governments and were distrusted by the public, but the emir gave Al-Jazeera complete editorial freedom. Its motto was: “The opinion and the other opinion.” Arabs were amazed to see TV news that finally broadcast interviews with dissidents and held their governments accountable for policies. Some Arab states retaliated by closing Al-Jazeera bureaus, disrupting potential ad revenues, and breaking off relations with Qatar.

“I call it soft, subtle, cultural Jihad.”

lady, I call it freedom of speech…

I only hope it’s less biased than what you’ve posted. I thought being American was all about protesting stuff, but only when they protest what you think they should?

Interesting how people slam Fox for its bias (undeniable), but support al-jazeera, because of course it’s fair and balanced.

I think the al-jazeera you see in Burlington is one hell of a watered-down version of what you see in Qatar. This is thanks to your “system of censorship”, where channels must be approved before they can go on the air.

Yes, Arabs hate Jews, and Jews hate Arabs. Why can’t we all just do a silly jig and get along?

Rachael Ray’s Dunkin’ Donuts commercial was yanked because she was wearing a scarf that looked like a kaffiyeh and “symbolized terrorism.” That is RE-FUCKING-TARDED. Get it together people!

We don’t need to ban donut commercials, or news stations. If CNN reports about Britney Spears, if America’s Funniest Home Videos is STILL ON an if Fox News and Tila Tequila have audiences…okay. Let us have an alternative. Not everyone is into that, and we’re Americans, too. That kind of censorship is exactly what this country is supposed to oppose! Al- Jazeera is NOT going to make anyone a terrorist, and anyone who thinks it will seems to misunderstand the situation severely. How can anyone cave to that? Squeaky wheels don’t always DESERVE the grease, but nagging is effective. There are a lot of things to love about this country, but morons with money sure seem hell bent on making it suck for the rest of us. Come on, Burlington. You’re so progressive (and pretty, I’ve been there), don’t pull it!

The post was by Adam Stanhope, Dave, not me.

I myself, as a US immigrant, remember watching the Bush-Kerry presidential election on US TV (including Fox and France 2 public channel. Wow. What a difference! Kerry was going down on one side of the Altlantic while getting elected on the other (you picked the wrong country, John).

So, should we allow any TV? Free speech says yes.
Should we be happy about it? I’m not so sure. I admit I hope those TVs will be monitored for extremism.

As for Burlington it’s so close to the Ben&Jerry’s ice cream factory it can’t be a bad town

Also: butterflies? i almost thought this was fake then.

al Jazeera is actually more informed, as far as objectivity is concerned, they could use more. But they get a 51% market share, which is unheard of. If anything, I predict a worldwide boom in that network.