It’s past midnight and we’re sitting in our hotel room, watching Al Jazeera English. This wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy, except that we toured the news network this morning. After handing over our passports at the entrance gate, we ran into a bit of trouble getting through security. The hour of waiting in the idling van was passed by playing GHOST (a word game).

Omar, the Iraqi-American intern who worked his mojo to get us in to Al Jazeera, said “Security’s pretty tight; presidents get stuck here all the time, don’t worry about it.”

Background info: Al Jazeera is generally recognized in the U.S. as the network that aired Osama bin Ladin’s video statements after the September 11th attacks. They’re also known for allegedly airing videos of beheadings of hostages, although they’ve never in their 12 years broadcasted a severed head rolling on the ground.

In reality, the network has the most independent and free speech reporting in the Middle East. Through its Arabic and English channels, Al Jazeera is able to report from places that other networks can’t get to, such as the Gaza Strip. The network is dedicated to reporting newsworthy stories—their mission is to bring news from developing countries to developed nations. The network allows its viewers to have access to certain stories and video available nowhere else.

Lauren McCullough, director of International Media Relations, took us through the English network’s newsroom where the floor was scattered with staff members sitting at computer clusters—there were several monitors per person and random newspapers and atlases strewn on tables.

The meteorologist we watched on television last night was in front of us in the studio, forecasting the weather. It was a very modern studio—she had no direction from cameramen or directors except for a “starting in 5…” from an overhead platform.

Next, Lauren took us to the Arabic studio where we got a quick glance at Samil al-Haj, the Al Jazeera reporter captured in Afghanistan seven years ago. He looked well, or at least the back of his head did, considering he had engaged in a hunger strike to protest his incarceration. We also saw a room of artifacts from other fallen colleagues, including a battle-worn helmet and vest that read in faded yellow “REPORTER.” There was a sculpture constructed for reporters who passed while in action. Lauren mentioned that journalists are dying faster than they can add names to the piece.

This was my first experience in a newsroom. I was overwhelmed by the environment there—the level of content, the depth of what they cover, how concerned they are for what they report, and not necessarily the act of reporting—giving out news that people need to hear. It makes me respect the field of journalism so much more. I feel connected to the the craft of writing, of reporting, of informing the people.

— Aliesha Jones