Al Anstey (born 22 April 1966) is a media executive and strategic advisor on media and communications.[5] He was CEO of Al Jazeera America in 2015,[6] and managing director of Al Jazeera English (AJE) in 2010.[4] He is the CEO of Collingwood Worldwide.[4]
Al Anstey | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 April 1966 |
| Alma mater | University of Bath (MSc) |
| Occupation(s) | Media Executive & Strategic Advisor on Media and Communications. |
| Known for | Former CEO of Al Jazeera America,[1][2][3] and CEO of Collingwood Worldwide[4] |
Background and education
editAnstey was born in London and educated at Westminster School. He holds an MSc degree in Social Psychology from University of Bath.
Career
editAnstey has worked in media for three decades. He was part of the start-up of Associated Press Television News, was Head of Foreign News at ITN (2000), was part launch team of Al Jazeera English as deputy director of news and then as managing director, and led the turnaround of Al Jazeera America as CEO from 2015 to 2016.[7][3]
Anstey was also Network Director of Media Development and Head of New Media at Al Jazeera Network and oversaw the digital properties and digital strategy at both AJAM and AJE.[8][9]
During Anstey's tenure as managing director of AJE, it grew from being a newly launched news channel to gaining a reputation for quality worldwide,[10] winning a number of major TV awards,[10][11] and building distribution to over 300 million homes in over 130 countries.[12][13]
During the unlawful detention of Al Jazeera English staff in Egypt in 2014, Anstey called for their release worldwide with the FreeAJStaff campaign, and campaigned for a free media, and the right for people worldwide to be properly informed.[14]
Al Jazeera America was closed by Al Jazeera's parent company in 2016 as it was no longer sustainable given the economic challenges in US media marketplace, though it was recognised for the quality of its journalism and the progress made prior to closure.[14][15]
Since leaving Al Jazeera America, Anstey founded has been CEO of Collingwood Worldwide, advising international companies on media strategy and communications.[4] Notable projects include advising the Global Commission on Adaptation chaired by former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, Bill Gates, and Kristalina Georgieva to raise awareness of the need to build resilience to the impacts of climate change worldwide.[3]
Since 2016, Anstey has also conducted media "masterclasses" for the Thomson Foundation in both Morocco and Lebanon,[16] and given speeches and lectures on integrity in journalism.[17]
Since 2016, Anstey has been Chair of the board of trustees of People Need Nature, a UK based charity which exists to highlight the benefits that nature focused on achieving long term positive change.[18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ John Koblin,"Al Jazeera America Chief Is Ousted After Turmoil". The New York Times. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Al Anstey looks to rewrite Al Jazeera America headlines". ft.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b c Brian Stelter,"Al Jazeera America goes dark and CEO reflects: 'I believe we succeeded'". cnn.com. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Al Anstey named MD Al Jazeera English". broadbandtvnews.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Brian Steinberg"Al Jazeera America's New Chief Hopes To Change Network's Image". variety.com. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ John Koblin,"Al Jazeera America Chief Is Ousted After Turmoil". The New York Times. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Al Anstey looks to rewrite Al Jazeera America headlines". ft.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Rachel Bartlett,"The digital strategy 'journey' at Al Jazeera English". journalism.co.uk. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Hear the human story". aljazeera.com. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b John Plunkett,"Al Anstey: 'If you cover something it doesn't mean you are sympathetic to it'". theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Tom Cole,"Al-Jazeera English wins news channel of the year award". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Al Jazeera English goes live on Freeview". pressgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Brian Stelter,"Al Jazeera English Finds an Audience". The New York Times. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b Hatty Collier,"Campaign to free Al-Jazeera journalists imprisoned in Egypt reaches 100th day". theguardian.com. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "The final days of Al Jazeera America". retubeit.tv. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Broadcast Management Master Class Launches OPEN Media Hub Activities in Morocco". openmediahub.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Lessons learnt launching Al Jazeera English, and how they can be applied to news media today". politics.ox.ac.uk. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Who are we?". peopleneednature.org.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2020.