AJ+

AJ+ is a digital news and current-affairs brand owned by Al Jazeera Media Network. It was developed as an internet-first publishing operation rather than as a conventional linear television channel, with a focus on short-form video, visual explainers, animation, social distribution and on-demand programming. Its coverage spans international news, politics, human rights, social affairs, culture, lifestyle, technology and public-interest issues. The project emerged from Al Jazeera's effort to build a dedicated digital operation for audiences increasingly consuming news through websites, mobile devices and social platforms. Development work began in the San Francisco Bay Area after Al Jazeera established a presence there and acquired facilities associated with Current TV. Early experimentation led to a YouTube test channel in December 2013, a soft launch in June 2014 and a full launch on September 15, 2014, accompanied by a mobile application. AJ+ initially concentrated on English-language publishing but subsequently added Spanish, French and Arabic editorial operations. Its distribution has included the AJ+ website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, as well as earlier native applications and smart-TV platforms. The brand's editorial formats include breaking-news clips, contextual explainers, animated videos, interviews, satire, short documentaries, field reports and audience-participation programs such as AJ+ Asks. Videos generally prioritize accessibility and shareability over the conventions of scheduled television news, and live reporting has a smaller role than in Al Jazeera's broadcast channels. The brand is organizationally separate from Al Jazeera's cable and satellite news channels, although it can draw on the wider network's international bureaus and reporting resources. AJ+ has been associated with operations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Doha, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi, while also using freelance contributors. Its content is formatted for an international audience and is available across multiple language services. AJ+ received recognition at the 2015 Webby Awards for online news and information, including honors connected with individual video, documentary series and mobile publishing. It also attracted substantial social-media reach during its early years. The service discontinued new publishing on Medium in February 2018 and ended its standalone mobile apps in April 2018, shifting distribution toward its website and third-party platforms. The brand has also faced criticism concerning editorial framing, Qatar's influence over Al Jazeera and differences between the network's Arabic- and English-language output. In 2019, an Arabic-language video concerning the Holocaust was removed after condemnation, and two journalists were suspended. In 2020, the United States Department of Justice directed AJ+ to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a decision Al Jazeera rejected. Public information does not establish that the order was enforced. AJ+ remains an active digital publisher within Al Jazeera Media Network.

AJ+ was conceived within Al Jazeera Media Network as an internet-first publishing project. Al Jazeera had considered an online-only television service as early as 2010, but development was delayed while the network dealt with the Arab Spring and other strategic priorities. The idea gained renewed importance after the launch of Al Jazeera America, when distribution restrictions in the United States affected the availability of some Al Jazeera English video content. An online service could be designed specifically for digital audiences and social platforms. Development accelerated after Al Jazeera acquired Current TV and obtained its San Francisco facilities. The site already contained infrastructure suited to digital production, making it a practical base for experimentation. In January 2012, members of Al Jazeera's social-media team relocated staff to San Francisco to develop the project. Following research, pilots and internal evaluation, Al Jazeera management approved additional resources. AJ+ became the first project incubated through the network's Innovation & Incubation Department. In October 2013, Al Jazeera announced plans for an internet-only channel called AJ+. Test material appeared on YouTube on December 17, 2013. The service soft-launched on June 13, 2014, with a redesigned website, new branding, several videos and a Facebook community page. Its full launch followed on September 15, 2014, alongside a mobile application. Early distribution emphasized Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and the AJ+ website, while the service also experimented with mobile and smart-TV applications. The brand's editorial model differed from traditional television news. AJ+ generally avoided regular anchors and live programming, favoring short, visually designed pieces that could be watched and shared in social feeds. Its formats included real-time news clips, contextual explainers, animated journalism, satire, interviews, short documentaries and field reporting by video journalists. Individual pieces could be very brief or extend to approximately ten minutes. The service also developed interactive formats, including AJ+ Asks, and collaborated with TED on explanatory content. AJ+ began international language expansion with a Spanish-language soft launch in April 2015. French-language publishing followed in 2017, while Arabic content formed another major part of the brand's multilingual operation. During its early growth, AJ+ reported significant social reach and received 2015 Webby recognition for online news and information, an individual episode, a documentary series and its mobile application. The app was also a finalist for a Society for News Design digital-design award. The service changed its distribution model in 2018. It stopped adding new written material to Medium in February and ended its standalone mobile applications in April. The brand instead focused on its website, YouTube and social platforms. The English-language operation moved to Washington, D.C., while other offices and contributors supported international production. AJ+ remains distinct from Al Jazeera's broadcast channels, but it can use the network's international bureaus and reporting infrastructure. AJ+ has attracted scrutiny over editorial selection and the political implications of its ownership. Critics, including France's National Audiovisual Institute, have argued that some of its social-media output gives disproportionate attention to emotionally charged issues and reflects Qatar's ideological influence. In 2019, an Arabic-language video about the Holocaust was removed after widespread criticism; Al Jazeera said it violated editorial standards and suspended two journalists associated with the production. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice ordered AJ+ to register under FARA. Al Jazeera disputed the decision and attributed it to political pressure. Public reporting does not establish enforcement of the order. Despite these controversies, AJ+ continues to operate as a multilingual digital news publisher.

• 2020

  FARA registration order

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. Department of Justice ordered AJ+ to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act; Al Jazeera contested the decision.

• 2018

  Distribution shifts away from owned apps

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  AJ+ ended new Medium publishing and discontinued its native mobile applications, prioritizing web and third-party platforms.

• 2017

  French-language service launches

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  AJ+ expanded its multilingual operation with a French-language version.

• 2015

  Spanish service begins testing

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  AJ+ Español soft-launched, beginning the brand's expansion into additional language services.

• 2015

  Webby Awards recognition

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  AJ+ received several Webby honors related to online news, video, documentary programming and mobile publishing.

• 2014

  Soft and full launches

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  AJ+ soft-launched in June and completed its public launch in September with a website, social channels and a mobile application.

• 2013

  First AJ+ YouTube channel goes live

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  AJ+ released early test material on YouTube on December 17, beginning public experimentation with its digital-native format.

• 2012

  Development work moves to San Francisco

  [1]AJ+en.wikipedia.org

  Al Jazeera relocated members of its social-media team to San Francisco to develop the proposed digital publishing service.

A global, digital-native news and explainer brand emphasizing visual storytelling, mobile-friendly formats, social engagement and on-demand distribution.

• Digital news publisher · 2014

  AJ+ English

  The English-language service publishes global news, explainers, documentaries and social-issue reporting for international online audiences. Its output is optimized for websites and social feeds, with limited live coverage and a strong emphasis on visual storytelling.

• Digital news publisher

  AJ+ Arabic

  The Arabic-language operation produces digital news and current-affairs content within AJ+'s multilingual publishing structure. Its history has included short video, visual explanations and social-first reporting.

• Digital news publisher · 2015

  AJ+ Español

  AJ+ Español is the Spanish-language service, initially soft-launched in 2015 to test and develop content for Spanish-speaking digital audiences.

• Digital news publisher · 2017

  AJ+ Français

  The French-language service extends AJ+'s social-news and explainer model to French-speaking audiences and forms part of the brand's international language expansion.

• Documentary series

  AJ+ Short Docs

  AJ+ Short Docs presents compact documentary features, generally examining social, political and cultural subjects in a format designed for online viewing.

• Mobile application · 2014

  AJ+ Mobile App

  The original iOS and Android application launched with AJ+'s full service in 2014. It used card-and-stack navigation and emphasized discovery, interaction and social engagement before being discontinued in 2018.

• 2020

  Foreign Agents Registration Act controversy

  The U.S. Department of Justice directed AJ+ to register under FARA, alleging that it engaged in political activity while being directed or controlled by Qatar-linked interests. Al Jazeera rejected the characterization and argued that the action was politically motivated. The available reference material does not indicate that the order was enforced.

  Source

• 2019

  Removal of Holocaust-related Arabic video

  AJ+ removed an Arabic-language video that minimized or denied aspects of the Holocaust after public criticism and condemnation by Israeli officials. Al Jazeera said the video breached editorial standards and suspended two journalists involved in its production.

  Source

Read more

• 2014AJ+ Fellowship Program

  North America · South America · Middle East · Europe · Asia-Pacific · Sub-Saharan Africa

  AJ+ announced a fellowship initiative seeking contributors and participants from multiple world regions as it developed a globally oriented digital newsroom.

  Outcome. The initiative supported the brand's international sourcing and audience-development ambitions; detailed long-term results are not specified in the available material.

  Source

• 2019

  Remove disputed Holocaust video and suspend journalistsOther

  Background

  An Arabic-language video was criticized for minimizing the Holocaust and for presenting claims about Jewish suffering and Israel that were described as antisemitic.

  Action taken

  AJ+ removed the video and Al Jazeera suspended two journalists, stating that the material violated editorial standards.

  Aftermath

  The incident intensified debate about editorial differences between Al Jazeera's language services and about AJ+'s editorial oversight.

  Source

• 2018

  Prioritize web and third-party platform distributionStrategy

  Background

  Changing digital consumption patterns and the dominance of large social and video platforms reduced the strategic importance of maintaining standalone publishing applications.

  Action taken

  AJ+ stopped publishing new material on Medium and discontinued its native mobile applications, concentrating on its website, YouTube and social networks.

  Aftermath

  The brand's distribution model became more dependent on external platforms and on-demand social video.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch a social-first digital news brandProduct launch

  Background

  Al Jazeera sought an internet-native service that could reach audiences through websites, mobile devices and social platforms rather than relying on linear television distribution.

  Action taken

  It introduced AJ+ through test videos, a website, social channels and a mobile application, using short-form and visual formats.

  Aftermath

  The service expanded internationally and developed English, Arabic, Spanish and French publishing operations.

  Source

1. 1AJ+en.wikipedia.org
2. 2AJ+ official websiteajplus.net