Longtime Al Jazeera anchor and journalist Jamil Azar passes away

Jamil Azar, 89, was the writer of Al Jazeera’s motto, ‘The sentiment and the different opinion’.

Longtime Al Jazeera Arabic anchor and writer Jamil Azar, a pioneer of the web since its constitution 3 decades ago, has passed away.

Director-General Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani lauded Azar, 89, successful a connection connected Sunday arsenic a “distinguished linguist” and the writer of the network’s motto, “The sentiment and the different opinion”.

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“Jamil Azar leaves down a singular and lasting media legacy, a estimation defined by integrity and excellence, and a heavy power connected generations of journalists who learned from him astatine Al Jazeera and different institutions wherever helium served and helped signifier nonrecreational standards,” Sheikh Nasser said.

“He was, successful each sense, a surviving schoolhouse of journalism and a trusted notation successful editorial practice, the Arabic language, tv presentation, and newsroom leadership. Always generous with his guidance and advice, helium was known for his humility and openness, and remained steadfastly loyal to Al Jazeera, profoundly committed to its values, lasting and reputation.”

With Azar’s passing, Sheikh Nasser emphasised, Arab media “loses 1 of its astir respected figures and Al Jazeera bids farewell to 1 of its brightest and astir influential stars”.

Born successful the municipality of al-Husn successful Irbid, Jordan, successful 1937, Azar began his vocation successful journalism astatine the BBC’s Arabic Service, wherever helium worked betwixt 1965 and 1996 arsenic a quality translator and presenter.

During his clip astatine the BBC, Azar held antithetic positions, including producing programmes specified arsenic Politics Between the Questioner and the Respondent and Arab Affairs successful the British Press.

In 1996, Azar joined Al Jazeera astatine its motorboat connected July 30, playing a cardinal relation successful the network’s aboriginal years arsenic a quality anchor and presenter, hosting the programme The Week successful the News.

The Jordanian writer stepped down from the web successful 2011.