The independent Doha, Qatar-based television news network, Al Jazeera, has been so castigated by Bush Administration officials that given a word association test, many Americans would probably say “Al Qaeda” upon hearing “Al Jazeera.” And yet Al Jazeera is hardly a mouthpiece for terrorists. Rather, it is a secular, serious, and highly professional news organization that offers some of the most informative televised reporting from the Middle East. In 2006, the network launched Al Jazeera English, a 24-hour international news program in English. Unfortunately, due no doubt to the smears it has endured, few U.S. cable television companies carry Al Jazeera English.

The Internet to the Rescue

Ayman Mohyeldin reporting live from Gaza for Al Jazeera English

Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, writing for the Huffington Post in an article titled, “Al Jazeera English Beats Israel’s Ban on Reporters in Gaza with Exclusive Coverage,” explains how to receive Al Jazeera English live via the Internet in high quality, freely and legally. To start watching now, download and install the free program Livestation, which is available in Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux versions. Registration is required, but is free. Alternatively, you can watch selected reports on Al Jazeera’s YouTube channel.