CAJ lauds CRTC decision to allow Al Jazeera English to broadcast

OTTAWA, Nov. 26 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists welcomes the CRTC's announcement today that Al Jazeera English can broadcast in this country.

"We're pleased that the CRTC has chosen to strengthen the diversity of news choices available to Canadians, enabling them to become better informed about the world," said CAJ president Mary Agnes Welch. "Allowing Al Jazeera English to broadcast on our airwaves is a big step toward serving our diverse population with news from parts of the world that just don't get covered in Canada today."

Al Jazeera English, based in Doha, Qatar, broadcasts into 100 countries in Africa, Asia, and throughout the Americas. It counts among its staff and leadership journalists drawn from the CBC, BBC, CNN and ABC, to name a few.

AJE managing director Tony Burman delivered the opening keynote address at the CAJ's national conference in Vancouver in May.

For further information: Mary Agnes Welch, CAJ President, (W) [phone], (C) [phone]; John Dickins, CAJ Executive Director, (C) [phone]