Al-Jazeera English columnist Sarah Kendzior is expressing dissatisfaction with that outlet:
I may or may not have an op-ed on racial discrimination and wage theft in Al Jazeera English this week. AJE is about to change.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
Writing for AJ English has been great. I will always be grateful to them for running work on poverty, race, and other controversial topics.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
But there are new rules. We're discouraged from researching content of our op-eds. Op-eds should be counterintuitive “hot takes” ala Slate.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
The rules apply to other writers too. You will no longer see the academics + researchers whose in-depth knowledge made the section distinct
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
I’m most read op-ed writer in AJE history. My articles go viral + are acclaimed. But I write about controversial topics in a distinct style.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
No room for freedom of thought under the new model. My heart is broken. I thank everyone for reading. And I will miss you very much.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
They didn't ask me to go. They asked me to not research my own articles and to conform to a model. I don't think that's fair to readers.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
I am very sad to write this. It came as a shock to me and to the other writers. I'm grateful for the past employees who made it what it was.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
Here's my prior work so you can see what they now find inappropriate. Encourage you to read other AJE writers as well http://t.co/LuDeUjePzs
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
This is a lesson for all of you. You can get high traffic. You can get critical acclaim. But touch certain topics, you'll find trouble.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
I have been offered many jobs over last two years. None paid enough to compensate for care for my kids. I'm not rich. Problem in journalism.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 20, 2014
Well, that last one’s certainly not an across-the-board problem in “journalism.”
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