DOHA: Qatar’s state-funded broadcaster Al-Jazeera yesterday announced a fresh round of job cuts with around 500 positions being lost, most of them at the network’s Doha headquarters.
On top of existing losses of 700 jobs following an announcement earlier this year that Al-Jazeera America is to close, it means the broadcaster is set to shed more than 20 percent of its global workforce.
In total, the job cuts will reduce Al-Jazeera’s staff numbers from around 5,200 to 4,000.
The cuts come at a time when gas and oil-rich Qatar is readjusting its spending priorities as it grapples with the global slump in energy prices.
Al-Jazeera said yesterday that after a management review it was “expected that around 500 positions worldwide will be impacted, the majority of which are in Qatar.”
Announcing the job losses in a statement, acting Director General Mostefa Souag said the cuts would allow the network “to evolve our business operation in order to maintain a leading position and continue our recognized commitment to high quality, independent and hard-hitting journalism around the world.
“While our decision is consistent with those being made across the media industry worldwide, it was difficult to make nonetheless.”
He added: “However, we are confident it is the right step to ensure the network’s long-term competitiveness and reach.”
According to one Al-Jazeera official, up to 60 percent of the job cuts — 300 positions — could come at the broadcaster’s Doha base. The official said job losses could begin to be enforced within the next week, and most would be in non-editorial positions.
Staff members were apparently told yesterday that Al-Jazeera English would be spared.
One employee at the network, who did not wish to be named, told AFP that the job losses were expected but that had created “a lot of paranoia” among staff as they waited to be officially told.
“We have been waiting for this announcement. Since the middle of January we were told next week, then next week, there was a lot of speculation.”
