CNN and Al Jazeera Websites: A Comparison - Essay Example

Media representations of local and world events help shaped policy formation as well as issues of legitimation on numerous issues which confront local and international societies. Development in technology enables media to reach out to more audiences all over the world, keeping everybody from Washington, to New York to London, Moscow, Riyadh, Cairo, Tel-Aviv, Algeria, Baghdad Kabul, Tokyo, Singapore, Rio, Caracas, Sydney, and Melbourne abreast with news, information, updates of almost everything that has been happening in town or the global stage. Similarly, with the advent of all of this technological advancement news reports, news footage, and information of all varieties can be easily accessed with just a click. With the influx of the World Wide Web, media likewise branches to these mediums to deliver news and information to a wider base of audiences. Among the most worthy of mention in delivering news and information which probably changed the concept of mass communication worldwide are two networks namely the Cable News Network or popularly known as CNN and the Al Jazeera Network.

Correspondingly, these two networks in keeping up with the changes of times have created websites to expand their horizons in terms of mass communications. The Cable News Network, famously known as CNN was founded by Ted Turner on June 1, 1980. CNN is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System owned by Time Warner. The network initiated the idea of 24-hour news coverage and in that order; it rates as America's number one cable news provider. It broadcasts chiefly in its headquarters at the CNN Center in Atlanta and from its studios in New York City and Washington DC.

In the world market, it broadcasts via CNN International and its affiliates which makes it accessible to more than 1.5 billion people all over the world. CNN has expanded its coverage to several cable and satellite television networks like CNN Headline News. In addition to this, the network has 12 websites, 2 private place-based networks, and 2 radio networks. It has 42 news bureaus all over the world and over 900 affiliates worldwide, which makes it the world's farthest-reaching news network.

Correspondingly, the network was able to commence regional and foreign networks globally. The network's coverage of the first Gulf War, as well as other conflicts and crises in the early 90s, lay concrete the way to what is now called the "CNN effect" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN) Its early success in the field of news coverage as well as in commentaries earned its distinction of being a news icon to which it continuously affects and move more people all over the world with its signature blend of beyond compare coverage of live breaking news and appointment programming which insight, relevance as well as rounded knowledge on the topics which in turn provides depth and diversity in news programming.

Similarly, the network has a wide variety of perceptive and thought-provoking programs like Lou Dobbs Money line, Larry King Live, and Inside Politics among others. CNN on September 11, 2001, made another history, by being the first network to break the news of what would be the September 11 attacks. This among other things made CNN the most all-inclusive and far-reaching source of in-depth news coverage and analysis and perspective which by the same token allows the understanding of the news as well as the issues which affect its viewers.