Not being state run does not mean it is not under the influences of the state and the position its leaders take. "First, it is home to al-Jazeera, the Arabic-l

Not being state run does not mean it is not under the influences of the state and the position its leaders take. "First, it is home to al-Jazeera, the Arabic-language news network that has transformed how Arabs get their news. Many give the television channel more credit for spurring on the Arab Spring than Facebook or Twitter. By bringing the revolutions into the homes of every Arab, al-Jazeera drew regional attention to early events in Tunisia and helped boost the number of Egyptians on the streets from the thousands to the hundreds of thousands. Al-Jazeera gives Qatar “soft power” well beyond its size."[0] Kinda like the history between the CIA and many news organizations that "operate distinctly independently".[1] [0]: http://www.cfr.org/qatar/tiny-qatars-big-plans-may-change-mideast/p26143 http://www.cfr.org/qatar/tiny-qatars-big-plans-may-change-mi... [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_and_the_media#Use_of_mass_media https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_and_the_media#Use_of_mass_...