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'Journalistic freedom of expression was never an issue for me'

A MAN who almost became a doctor, who enjoys the new found happiness of his twenty month old daughter, who hobnobs with the rich and famous, and travels all over the world to make people listen to him is Riz Khan, the international face of television journalism.

His stints with BBC and CNN were highly acclaimed and now as the founder director of Al Jazeera English, he aspires to do something more creative and informative than in his previous avatars. He was at the Asian Business Awards ME Press conference at Abu Dhabi, an initiative jointly organised by Real Media Zee Network and Indian Expressions and took time off to speak exclusively to City Times on the ever changing aspirations of a world citizen in the wake of new media initiatives today.

In the wake of media combinations available for the average consumer how much of marketing and technology has infiltrated in the actual content generation?

Technology's impact on the broadcast and print media is different in its own dimensions. In print the desktop publishing has made a sizeable difference though the basic parameters of deadlines remain the same. But the impact of technology on the broadcast platform has been immense. TV has gone 24 hours and a viewer can get news when he wants. Marketing and technology have certainly impacted the quality of the standards of journalism in a positive manner but the freedom of the press has largely been unaffected.

With everyday onset of new technology and media analysts proclaiming the decline of print journalism, you find new publications springing up from all corners of the world. How does that explain the paradox in the situation ?

The internet has allowed people to browse in a different way and a consumer has more access to information in all forms be it phone, print, internet or TV. Print medium will continue to remain and fascinate as the tactical possession of a news in one's hand is a great feeling. Internet mechanisms are designed to highlight the people’s interests. Danger of the internet is that the rich variety of the print medium is lost.

As a journalist you get to see some of the most fascinating aspects of human life. Have you ever discovered a hidden trait of the persona and how close do they feel to you in sharing some of their inner most feelings and beliefs?

Oh yes. Each personality has been fascinating as they take time to display their hidden facets of persona. I have interviewed people from all walks of life ranging from Mandela to Rekha, Dalai Lama to Prince Al Waled of Saudi Arabia and each encounter unfolds something unique and specific. During my interaction with Prince Al Waled of Saudi Arabia I discovered his penchant for timing and punctuality - a trait which is very western, and that is probably one of the reasons he has done so very well in western and the Arab Business world.

Compared to BBC and CNN what is the uniqueness of Al Jazeera?

BBC is very much like a predictable Rolls Royce with comfort, long history, whereas CNN is like a Ferrari which is noisy and where you are not sure if it will skid if you race fast. Al Jazeera is like a Toyota which has combined the elements of the East and the West and is a powerful name today. I have logistical freedom with Al Jazeera which gives me the space to do what I want to do and when I want to do. Journalistic freedom of expression was never an issue for me either with BBC or CNN. I like the mix of nationalities in Al Jazeera and it is not commercially hungry as CNN or bureacratic as BBC.