• Home

Major changes in Al Jazeera channel

DUBAI - Major changes are under way in Al Jazeera satellite television channel, starting with the resignation of the central chief editor, according to reports published in the Arab media.

Reports said the changes would be in place by next month. Sources in the channel were quoted, as saying changes will be effected not only in programmes, but also technical aspects like the lighting, graphics, studio designs, as also the ways of performance and the volume of the newscast.

The sources spoke of the resignation of Ibrahim Hilal, the chief editor of the channel, and his return to the BBC again, as director of the International Training Centre. Until now, nobody is nominated for his post. But the name of Salah Nijm is on the top of the candidates. The sources were quoted as saying that the new executive department of the channel led by Waddah Khanfer wants to concentrate on the short-time news casts of half hour and produce more cultural programmes. He wants the channel to concentrate on pictures and reduce dialogue in programmes.

The sources add that the main proposals are on reducing the time of dialogue programmes, like More Than One Opinion, Opposite Direction and Without Borders, to one hour instead of one and half hour as at present.

• UAE