Al Jazeera- 25th Anniversary Relaunch and Studio Build
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS
In recognition of its 25th anniversary in 2021, Al Jazeera Arabic sought a full relaunch of its 24-hour programming and the building and debut of its brand new production facilities. To add to the challenge, the network required the ability to remain fully operational at its normal capacity throughout the build. The ~$25 million project consisted of three new state-of-the-art studios, two broadcast control rooms, two newsrooms, 24 edit suites, an entirely new technical infrastructure, and a revamped media management workflow. They sought their entire editorial vision to be overhauled to take advantage of newfound technical capacity to meet the changing expectations of their audience. They called for new programming to be developed, including the creation of new workflows and training of personnel both in the newsroom and in the field. The enormity of the undertaking and the unmitigated dedication of the network’s execution were equally impressive.
OUR SOLUTION
We assembled a team of a dozen producers and technicians to develop a progressive, multi-disciplined approach, including onsite consultation for the three months leading up to the launch. We began with a comprehensive audit period, including group sessions and seminars, one-on-one instruction, and hands-on collaboration in the creative process. Besides being an efficient model for implementing the content and workflow changes sought by the network, it proved highly beneficial to overall communication within Al Jazeera. Consistent messaging was disseminated in a variety of settings. Feedback and discussion were encouraged in the spirit of finding definitive, actionable ideas, and resolutions.
The project began with a Design stage where careful consideration was made towards conceiving layouts, determining milestones, and allowing for future scalability. The Build stage required careful project management and coordination amongst all vendors. We facilitated the integration of new technical abilities with the creative process of their content producers. We exercised a great deal of nimbleness and flexibility throughout the construction process so that we were positioned to pivot to put out any unexpected fires as well as to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities for growth and innovation. The Launch stage demanded flawless execution, as the brand new facility was in the spotlight of a massive and very visible global launch. We oversaw dozens of rehearsals and dry runs to ensure success from the very first minute the facilities went live. We then turned towards the Post-launch stage and utilized our considerable experience to begin a period of professional development, including the building of training regiments, even for management, that allowed Al Jazeera to scale its abilities to its entire staff. This stage is ongoing and is laying the groundwork for future success by developing the skills and resources needed to operate at a high level long after our consultancy concludes.
RESULTS
A truly world class facility was launched with great aplomb, further solidifying Al Jazeera’s place as a global news leader. Our expert consultancy services were conceived and carried out with a client-first approach. Their newly realized abilities are making a splash and their considerable capacity has them well-positioned to grow with future audience and production trends.
