This morning I accepted an offer to appear on Al-Jazeera television by Julia Chapman, a producer for various news outlets including ABC and the BBC. The show is something called, The Listening Post.The funny thing is that I won't see it because I do not get al-Jazeera and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't watch it. In fact, I just read recent reports that Al-Jazeera America is a huge flop and thank G-d for that.
Do not get the wrong idea, however. It is not as if that they are yanking me into some studio. I have simply agreed to video a one minute segment for the show in which I answer one or more of the following questions:
1. American news coverage is often accused of being biased against Iran. Did you see that in coverage of the deal that was struck over the weekend? Have you seen a shift in the way American media depicts Iran?There is a part of me, I must admit, that wonders if this is not a mistake from an ethical standpoint. Much of the western left is friendly toward al-Jazeera even as they despise FOX News with the blinding hatred of a thousand suns. I am not a huge fan of FOX, either, but Al-Jazeera is an enemy of the Jewish State of Israel and, thus, an enemy of the Jewish people.
2. How do you feel the American media has addressed Israel's concerns about the Iran deal? Give some examples.
3. Why have Twitter and YouTube been such an important part of President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif’s media strategy? How do you think this compares with how the previous president interacted with the world?
Nonetheless, if I can add a little balance within a hostile venue then I will go for it.
