Longtime Al Jazeera Anchor Jamil Azar Passes Away

Veteran journalist and longtime Al Jazeera Arabic presenter Jamil Azar, one of the founding figures of the network, has died at the age of 89.

In a statement Al Jazeera Director-General Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani paid tribute to Azar, describing him as an exceptional master of the Arabic language and the mind behind the channel’s well-known slogan, “The opinion and the other opinion.”

Sheikh Nasser said Azar leaves behind an enduring legacy marked by professionalism, credibility and excellence, noting his profound impact on generations of journalists who worked with him at Al Jazeera and elsewhere. He described Azar as a guiding force who helped establish and elevate editorial and broadcasting standards across Arab media.

According to the statement, Azar was widely regarded as a model journalist and a reliable authority in newsroom leadership, television presentation and linguistic precision. Known for his humility and generosity, he was always willing to mentor colleagues and remained deeply loyal to Al Jazeera and its core values throughout his career.

“With his passing,” Sheikh Nasser said, “Arab media loses one of its most respected voices, and Al Jazeera says goodbye to one of its most influential pioneers.”

Azar was born in 1937 in al-Husn, a town in Jordan’s Irbid governorate. He began his journalism career with the BBC Arabic Service in 1965, where he worked for more than three decades as a news presenter and translator until 1996.

During his tenure at the BBC, he held several key roles and produced notable programmes, including Politics Between the Questioner and the Respondent and Arab Affairs in the British Press.

He joined Al Jazeera at its launch on July 30, 1996, becoming one of the network’s first anchors and presenters. In its early years, he hosted The Week in the News and played a significant role in shaping the channel’s identity and editorial approach.

The Jordanian journalist stepped away from Al Jazeera in 2011, concluding a distinguished career that left a lasting mark on Arab broadcast journalism.