Al Jazeera: television group will cut 500 jobs, mostly from headquarters in Qatar

Al Jazeera Media Network, of which beIN Media Group is a subsidiary, will eliminate about 500 jobs worldwide, announced the Qatari television group on 27/03/2016. A majority of these positions (300, 60%) will be cut from the headquarters in Qatar.

This press release is two and half months after the announcement, on 13/01/2016, of the closure of the news channel Al Jazeera America, effective 30/04/2016, which could lead to the removal of some 700 job positions, according to US media. Al Jazeera employs approximately 4500 people worldwide.

"While our decision is consistent with those being made across the media industry worldwide, it was difficult to make nonetheless. However, we are confident it is the right step to ensure the Network's long-term competitiveness and reach," said Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera, on 27/03/2016.

"A workforce optimisation initiative in order to maintain a leading position" (Mostefa Souag, on 27/03/2016)

• "Over the past few months, we have carefully evaluated every option available to the Network in order to ensure that we are best…