Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Al Jazeera | Media | Al Jazeera

The article recounts the founding of Al Jazeera by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. It describes how Sheikh Hamad summoned the author to announce his plan to create a news channel with a wide margin of freedom, distinct from traditional Arab media. Construction of the headquarters, recruitment of staff, and installation of broadcasting equipment were overseen by the emir. The channel began trial broadcasting in late November 1996 with the slogan 'The Opinion and the Other Opinion'.