The objective of On The Ground is to capture events as they unfold, where they unfold. To provide in-depth, on-site reporting from all global locations. Our goal is to offer our digital audience firsthand perspectives on significant events and issues.
The concept was to cover a wide array of topics, including conflicts, humanitarian crises, and cultural stories, by presenting narratives directly from the affected areas.
Our ambition and approach is to provide viewers with a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding global events, highlighting personal experiences and local perspectives that are often underrepresented in mainstream media.
The strategy was to be active and not reactive, On The Ground’s format was conceived to be a quick turn-around process in production and to complement other Al Jazeera newsgathering and reporting platforms. We deploy local Al Jazeera journalists to cover the events on their own turf. By applying this approach, the producers know the area and are able to be immersed in their surroundings, without appearing out of place or deployed from abroad.
Our plan was to distinguish ourselves from our competitors through an immersive, firsthand approach to journalism. To not be reliant on studios or secondhand information. We aimed to highlight on-site coverage, to bring our digital consumers directly to the location, and to the heart of the situation and environment where news is made and the events unfold.
The action plan was to build on Al Jazeera’s reputation as a strong and credible news outlet, offering a more comprehensive perspective than other mainstream media, which too often relies on a government or political narrative.
One of the challenges we initially faced was equipment and manpower. The traditional approach would be to deploy a news team with all the kit and equipment required for filing a news package. To overcome this, On The Ground takes a minimalistic approach. We use consumer-grade recording equipment (phones and microphones) and, in most cases, a single producer, to begin quickly capturing moments, emotions and reactions.
Part of our methodology is to engage with the public who are present and we have found that people are less inclined to participate in interviews if there are traditional news gathering elements present (camera operator, sound recordist, producer and correspondent), they are more comfortable and familiar speaking to someone who from the region and recording with a phone.
By applying this model, On The Ground is able to capture the raw emotions and reactions with minimal setup time. We avoid using minders or accompanied by government liaison officers or security escorts.
More frequently, the media and journalists are being targeted, and Al Jazeera has not been immune to this. By employing a ‘citizen journalist / mobile reporter’ approach we are able to get up close and in the mix. While not shying away from often chaotic events, we are able to maintain a level of anonymity while remaining diligent in reporting events as they happen.
On The Ground continues to cover diverse stories from across the globe. Our reputation for editorial excellence and adaptive news reporting resulted in Al Jazeera Digital delivering immersive storytelling that connects audiences to the realities on the ground.
On The Ground has successfully covered broad and wide ranging topics such as the situation in Syria following the fall of the Bashar Al Assad regime, the impact and realities of Israeli bombings in Lebanon, and reflections from Americans in the days before and the day after the presidential election.
The success we have achieved in providing nuanced and comprehensive understanding of global events, sets Al Jazeera and On The Ground apart from more conventional reporting styles. Our commitment to editorial independence and to provide a platform for voices and underrepresented perspectives sets On The Ground apart from other media outlets. This dedication to unbiased reporting allows On The Ground to present stories that might otherwise be overlooked, ensuring a more balanced and inclusive portrayal of events.
