Even before the war in Iran, Qatari media outlets faced a structural dilemma: how to consistently cover events with a pro-Islamist bias while simultaneously maintaining a facade of balanced and credible journalism.
One solution adopted by Al Jazeera (AJ) was to emphasize “business as usual” and the absence of protest, relying on reports of a “continuing routine” and occasionally on external commentators. This created an impression of stability, even when tensions simmered beneath the surface.
Nevertheless, Al Jazeera did occasionally report on demonstrations and even instances of Iranian violence, indicating a certain level of complexity in its coverage.
This complexity faced a true litmus test following the Iranian attacks on Qatar. At that time, expectations arose for a shift in Al Jazeera’s editorial line.
In practice, such a change hardly materialized: the network continued to provide a platform for pro-Iranian narratives, partly through interviews with high-ranking officials such as the Iranian foreign minister and commentators who promoted Tehran’s position.
Convenient narrative masking a coordinated media system
In the face of growing criticism – both from outside and within Qatar, including on social media – a new explanatory narrative began to emerge. According to this narrative, Al Jazeera primarily targets an international audience, and therefore, presenting the Iranian narrative is externally directed. In contrast, Qatari media outlets catering to the local audience, led by Qatar TV, provide more state-aligned coverage tailored to internal Qatari sensitivities.
This narrative was particularly convenient for the Qatari leadership: on one hand, it allowed Qatar to continue positioning itself as a regional shaper of public opinion through Al Jazeera and other outlets like Al Araby Television Network (ATN); on the other hand, it helped soften domestic and Gulf criticism regarding a stance that was often perceived as pro-Iranian.
However, there is reason to doubt the validity of this narrative. The Qatari media system is institutionalized, coordinated, and well connected to the country’s centers of power.
Evidence of this can be found in appointments and personal ties at the top of the media hierarchy – such as familial links between media executives and government officials – as well as the existence of coordinating forums, such as editorial committees that convene specifically during times of crisis to align messaging.
In this context, internal evidence – such as that provided by Suzan Quitaz, one of the coauthors of this article – could shed light on how this coordination mechanism actually operates behind the scenes:
I joined Qatari media in 2014. Already from my second interview panel it was obvious that ATN was no different from AJ or any other Qatari media outlet. They are all part of a multiarmed octopus of networks guided by the Qatari regime’s policies, functioning as an influence power center that controls the narrative and reshapes the global discourse in a way that advances Qatar’s political agenda, including whitewashing the image of its allies, from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the ayatollahs in Iran.
As in any other interview, I was asked why I should get the job. The gentleman who interviewed me was an Egyptian who previously worked for BBC in London.
I said, “I want to cover Israeli affairs and introduce Israel to our audience.”
He replied, “We have thousands who already cover Palestine.”
I replied, “Precisely, but what I am offering is to cover Israel.”
I was corrected a few times that it’s “Palestine,” not “Israel.” I left the channel in late 2020.
In July 2023, I was approached by a former colleague, who had left ATN to open his own production company. He wanted me to work with him as an Israel-based producer on a film about Avraham Stern for AJ.
I agreed after receiving assurances that the film would give both sides of the story a fair representation. I was in charge of covering the Israeli side of the story. We had a good working relationship. We used the same filming crew that I used for a film I did for Al Araby (2020) in Israel. My part on the film was concluded shortly before October 7.
A week after October 7, I had to come back again to Israel to report for an Israeli outlet on Hamas atrocities.
The director of the AJ film blocked my number and name-called me on social media. Needless, to say the film’s narrative was to be revised to fit with the narrative of “the poor Palestinians” who have been fighting against “the wicked, evil Israel” for decades.
In late January 2025, I was approached by a well-known Palestinian director who, like many Qatar media people, has his own production company. His company has done many documentaries for AJ, ATN, and other Qatari channels. I have worked with him previously.
He wanted me to work with him on a film for AJ about “IDF soldiers and possible war crimes.” He told me that I would be covering the Israeli side. Only, I realized that his so-called investigative documentary had already reached the conclusion that “IDF soldiers are committing war crimes,” and he wanted to use me as a tool to prove that. I declined.
My managing director at ATN in Doha had his own production company which made documentaries for both AJ and ATN. Senior staff are often rotated within the Qatari media empire. This includes some of its most influential program hosts.
So, my question to the Israeli government is why revoke the press credentials of one part and leave the other to roam freely?
From this multitentacled octopus, it is crucial to learn the lesson of critical media consumption regarding Qatari outlets. If a message is broadcast across the various forms of Qatari media concerning Iran, it is because someone in Doha was interested in promoting it in one way or another. The viewer must remain alert to the manipulation being practiced on them.
Ariel Admoni is a researcher of Qatari policy at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security.
Suzan Quitaz is a journalist and researcher of Middle Eastern affairs. She previously worked as field producer and journalist for several Qatari media outlets.
