Taoufik Founi - Al Jazeera Discovery Channel

Al Jazeera network launched it's Documentary channel on January 1st, 2007 , making it the first pan-Arab channel specialized in documentary films.

To explain more about the channel, its aims and its mission, Aljazeera.net spoke to its supervisor Tawfik Founi.

Aljazeera.net: How would you define the Al Jazeera Documentary channel?

Founi: Al Jazeera Documentary channel is specialised in broadcasting documentary films.

We start with man and his place in the world, and in the universe and we want to examine the realities and interactions between man and his environment, look at this impact in a number of areas.

Our aim is to avoid over-dramatising the stories, we wish to express the human story in general basing on the positive and interactive aspects.

These concepts will be reflected on the quality and diversity of the programmes. We are not a political channel, we are not a news channel, we are not an economic channel, we are presenting cosmopolitan product with cultural content that aims at a wide Arabic audience. 

What is the driving force behind the new channel?

Al Jazeera Documentary fulfills the Al Jazeera spirit. We want to present a quality product by using the latest production and operational processes, while also serving our an audience which is curious about the world around us.

Our ambition is that this channel takes into consideration the reality of the Arabic world and particularly the Middle East reality and out into the world as a whole.

This does not imply any separation between the two, on the contrary the aim of the channel is to build bridges between different cultures and religions and enhance respect of all societies.

Would you say there also a gap in what was being provided to Arabic audiences?

It's true. there was no specialised documentary channel in the Arab world, we are the first universal Arabic channel specialising in documentary films.

What is your relationship with other Al Jazeera channels?

Our relation within the network is a relation of one family, we are one team , in complete harmony - this is what distinguishes the soul of Al Jazeera channel in general.

What kind of programmes will the documentary channel broadcast?

Our programs will be diverse; we want the channel to be a reference to improve the intellectual background of the Arabic speaking viewers whether he is in the Arabic world or outside.

We want to provide programmes that examine social, political, economic, artistic, technicial, cultural  and historical issues.

It's a public channel. As for the content we have various aims - we want to reach the audience by focussing on the human being and his environment but giving those subject different treatments. This is our priority.

Are these programs ready to be broadcast or produced by Al Jazeera?

The production of a nigh quality documentary film is extremely expensive, especially outside the Arab world.

For films bought from abroad, on one hand, we select what suits our editorial standards on the other hand we also produce for ourselves films that others are not capable of making because of Al Jazeera's unique and fearless editorial approach.

Al Jazeera has been very close to the flashpoints in the Arab world, and so we can produce many of our own documentary films covering areas as Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.

Al Jazeera has extensive experience in reporting on events and the reality of life in these areas and to move quickly to report on it, therefore we have the priority to produce films about these countries and life there.

Is there enough documentary production in the Arab world?

We deal in the Arab market with anyone who meets our editorial standards; unfortunately the Arab market is still growing in this field.

For technical or editorial considerations many products are not compatible with our vision, and we control the quality of programmes very closely. We want to choose the best for our audience and we have developed specific standards that guide our style.

These standards are very high and try to reach the objectivity in order to preserve the reputation that Al Jazeera has built over the last 10 years.

But while our editorial standards are clear, unfortunately we were unlucky, until now to reach the required quantity. One of our challenges we face is how to avoid this gap in the future.

Therefore the Channel will sponsor talent and work in partnership with the documentary industry and film-makers across the world to develop programmews for our audience.

There are many competent, well known Arabic producers and scholars with an international  reputation that we are dealing with and it is an excellent opportunity for these talented people to find facilities to realise their ambitions.

We will support artists, creatives and film-makers to develop the documentary industry by realising a real partnership with film-makers around the world, aiming to achieve different documentary media that serve the audience; we will provide them with suitable tools to allow them to realise their dreams.

What are the editorial standards of the Documentary Channel?

The characteristic of this channel is that we try to focus on Arab human interest issues, cultural and community concerns as well as the situation of the southern societies by producing documentaries that speak about them and cover their way of life.

Our channel will be a forum and way to mirror objectively and closely our audience's views. Our programs also aim to spread understanding and expand communications between diverse peoples  and cultures.

How many hours will you broadcast?

The Al Jazeera documentary channel will broadcast 24 hours a day. This is to give our viewers from Maghreb region to Arabian Gulf the chance to watch all our programmes.

Of course we repeat the broadcast of our documentaries, three times per day. This is normal in the documentary channels. 

This allows our audience the best possible chance to access all of our programmes at different times of the day, and is part of upholding Al Jazeera's international reputation.

What are your future projects?

Our future plan is to further develop partnerships with producers, production companies and TV channels whose editorial standards are the same as Al Jazeera's.

The channel will also present a variety of programs. We decided to broadcast programmes made by internationally and locally known filmmakers which share our vision of equality, fairness, objectivity and respect for the Arabic audience and the so-called South.

Our ambition is to produce distinguished programmes either within Al Jazeera or in collaboration with other channels or with independent producers, who produce in areas such as Africa and Asia.

We have already started to realize this project and in future we want to accomplish a partnership with the production companies or other broadcasters that meet our editorial standards and  produce high quality documentaries.

We are working hard, and our ambition may take a long time. The main objective is to change the way to deal with the humanity and it's environment in the Arab world, Africa and Asia

These areas will be examined in depth; our heritage is extremely rich, culturally and intellectually so it we want to take a new and innovative approach and we wish to offer producers the  opportunity to help us accomplish this task, in order to show people the world around them.

Do you expect any difficulties or obstacles related to such productions, especially where some authorities are very secretive?

As a matter of fact, these difficulties are regular part of the media world. We are ready to challenge any obstacle, we do not promise to change the world, but we will do our best to make truth our watchword.

We don't want shock anyone, but our channel aims to develop the documentary culture and to spread understanding.

We want to focus on the rich Arab heritage and intellect, not the politics; we are a documentary channel that seeks to fill educational gaps.

Our editorial philosophy aims to spread the spirit of hope and the culture of communication among peoples and civilizations. Obstacles will always be there, this is the nature of journalism, but Arabic regimes must not deal with us as they deal with Al Jazeera news.

While we are part of the Al Jazeera network we want to provide a viewpoint that is different to Al Jazeera's news, Yes there may be many obstacles that face our production process but we should not allow these to stop us going ahead.

This interview was translated from the original Arabic.