Ex-Exec Sues Al Jazeera America

Shannon High-Bassalik

A former Al Jazeera America exec is taking legal action against the channel, with a fired employee saying she witnessed those at the channel forgo “journalistic objectivity” to “advance a pro-Arabic/Middle Eastern agenda, often at the expense of Jewish people.”

Variety reports the suit is being filed by Shannon High-Bassalik, who was formerly the senior vice president of programming and documentaries at Al Jazeera America. High-Bassalik also accused the network of discriminating against female and non-Arabic employees.

“The allegations made against Al Jazeera America are by a former employee whose conduct and performance went through a full process of investigation led by an external law firm before her employment ended, during which Ms. High-Bassalik made none of the allegations she makes in her complaint,” the channel said in a statement on Thursday.

“Al Jazeera values and respects all of its employees, and has zero tolerance of any form of discrimination,” the statement goes on.

The suit was filed in federal court in Los Angeles, and also alleges that management at the channel pushed a 9/11 conspiracy theory that the CIA was behind the 2001 attacks. High-Bassalik was fired from AJAM in February.