Al-Jazeera is one of the most widely watched news channels in the world. It's also one of the most controversial. Set up by the maverick Emir of Qatar, who drew heavily on a failed BBC Arabic television project, Al-Jazeera quickly became a household name after September 11 by delivering some of the biggest scoops in television history. Financed by one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Al-Jazeera quickly established itself as the premier news channel in the Islamic world by covering events Arabs cared about in ways they had never seen before. However, accusations of ties to Al-Qaeda continue to plague the channel. With unprecedented access to key players, reporters, producers, and financiers, journalist Miles uncovers the full story of Al-Jazeera's meteoric rise and how its influence is shaping the course of the Arab world.

Arabic collection. Originally published: London : Abacus, 2005. Includes index. Originally published: Great Britain : Abacus, 2005.

Introduction -- 1. A seed planted in the desert -- 2. Making a splash in the Arab world -- 3. The second intifada -- 4. September 11 -- 5. Afghanistan -- 6. Media war -- 7. Countdown to war -- 8. Iraq -- 9. Aftermath -- 10. Free speech and the domino effect -- 11. Watching from the west.