MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The international news network Al Jazeera has opened a bureau in Nashville, and the channel has also hired a veteran mid-state newscaster as a primary anchor.
Al Jazeera will launch its new U.S. channel, Al Jazeera America, on August 20. In preparation, the network has opened bureaus in 12 U.S. cities, including Nashville.
Tennessee native and well-known TV journalist John Michael Seigenthaler was named this past week as one of Al Jazeera America’s primary anchors.
Seigenthaler graduated from Nashville’s Father Ryan High School and went on to report and anchor for WKRN-TV. For seven years he was the weekend anchor for NBC Nightly News.
“A lot of people don’t know Al Jazeera and they don’t know the quality of the reporting that they’ve done around the world. Once they recognize that, they’ll be willing to take a look and see what we’re doing in the United States, and I think they’ll be surprised – pleasantly surprised – at the quality of the news that we’re delivering.”
Al Jazeera has hired a second mid-state journalist to head the Nashville bureau. Jonathan Martin, formerly of WSMV-TV, was recently named to the post.