Al Jazeera English in the US Media Landscape

Overview

The United States is one of the world’s most crowded and polarised media ecosystems, marked by deepening trust gaps and evolving consumption behaviours. Within this complex environment, Al Jazeera English (AJE) continues to strengthen its footprint, earning improved credibility and unique positioning among international news consumers seeking alternative global perspectives. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain. This paper outlines key insights derived from recent primary and secondary analyses of the US news media environment, with a focus on AJE’s role and reception therein.

1. Rising Trust in Al Jazeera English

According to YouGov’s 2025 Trust in Media Survey, AJE’s net trust score has improved significantly, climbing from -11 to -3, a notable 8-point rise. (1) While still slightly in the negative, this shift reflects greater openness among American audiences, particularly those fatigued by domestic partisan media. Democrats continue to exhibit higher levels of trust in news overall; however, the overlap between progressives and conservatives in terms of which news brands they trust remains limited—and even narrower when it comes to the brands they mutually distrust. (2)

2. Trust in Platforms: TV & YouTube

Despite the digital age, television remains the most trusted format for news in the US and should not be discounted as a major platform for consumption. (3) Among digital platforms, however, YouTube stands out as the most trusted social media source for news, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials. (4) AJE’s free 24/7 livestream on YouTube therefore represents a significant asset. Promoting this feature across owned channels and partner platforms, while enhancing discoverability through optimisation, strategic ad placements and collaboration with US-based progressive content creators, could help expand reach and increase viewer engagement.

3. Political Realignment

The recent Democratic mayoral primary victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City reflects growing grassroots dissatisfaction with centrist establishment politics. Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, represents a progressive wave mirroring national shifts. (5) This evolving political landscape possibly lends itself to becoming an advantageous place for the following content: in-depth reporting on marginalizes communities, global inequality, and coverage of US affairs. AJE and its content are thus uniquely positioned to potentially resonate with this audience base.

Furthermore, recent findings from a 2025 Pew Research report reveal an increasingly polarised American public opinion on Israel and the ongoing aggression in occupied Palestine. (6) Notably, the data reveals a growing partisan divide: only 37% of Republican or Republican-leaning adults in the US hold an unfavourable view of Israel, compared to 69% of Democrat or Democrat-leaning adults, up from 53%. Among younger Democrat-leaning Americans under 50, 71% view Israel negatively, compared to 66% among those 50 and older. For Republican-leaning US adults, it is 50% and 23% respectively. (7) This generational and ideological split suggests that objective reporting on US policy, as well as coverage of the Israeli war on Gaza, may hold particular appeal for younger, progressive-leaning audiences.

That being said, over the past two years, unfavourable views of Israel have risen across both partisan lines and age groups, particularly among adults aged 18 to 49. Additionally, confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of foreign affairs remains low, especially among Democrats; 28% of U.S. adults express “not too much” confidence, while 23% express “some” confidence. These shifts, especially among younger Americans across the political spectrum, indicate a changing perception of the ongoing violence in occupied Palestine. In this context, objective and in-depth reporting from news organisations may play a crucial role in shaping public understanding.

4. Perceived Shift on the Media Bias Chart

Recent updates to the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart indicate a shift in expert assessments of AJE’s positioning since 2021. Previously, AJE was classified near the centre, between ‘Middle’ and ‘Skewing Left’ on the bias spectrum, and situated within the ‘Mostly Analysis OR Mix of Fact Reporting and Analysis’ category for news value and reliability. (8)

In the January 2025 chart, AJE is now rated as ‘Strongly Left’ and positioned on the border between ‘Mix of Fact Reporting and Analysis’ and ‘Opinion or Wide Variation in Reliability,’ though it remains closer to the former. (9) This shift may be due to AJE’s extensive coverage of Palestine and its emphasis on underrepresented voices. While this perceived leftward bias could contribute to polarisation, it may also enhance the outlet’s credibility among progressive and independent audiences—key growth segments in US media consumption, as suggested by prior research.

5. Market Penetration & Growth Potential in the US

According to “The Global Media Landscape and the Consumption of English-Language International News: 2019–2022”, a study conducted by Al Jazeera’s Research & Insights team in collaboration with Nielsen, AJE maintains a solid level of brand awareness among international news consumers in the United States, though it lags slightly behind the levels observed in other global markets. (10)

Among those who regularly engage with AJE, a relatively small percentage identify AJE as a brand that is top-of-mind (that is, mentioned spontaneously without prompting and among the first recalled). (11) This figure is notably lower in the United States than in the broader set of 28 markets included in the study. Nevertheless, those who do consider AJE a primary news source exhibit strong brand loyalty, consistently ranking it among their most trusted and frequently accessed media outlets. (12)

In terms of audience potential, the US remains a market with significant untapped opportunity; a sizable portion of international news consumers are aware of AJE but have yet to engage with it on a weekly basis. (13) This indicates that while awareness is there, habitual viewership and deeper engagement remain key challenges. However, there is a potential to possibly resonate with the progressive left in the United States, who may be the key to building a loyal and active consumer base if or when the opportunity arises.

Conclusion

AJE benefits from a loyal audience characterised by strong brand affinity and high levels of trust—an asset that offers a solid foundation for continued growth. Nonetheless, expanding within the ideologically fragmented and highly competitive US media market presents significant challenges. Despite these complexities, AJE has carved out a distinctive position, gaining credibility among viewers seeking alternative perspectives on global news.

Future growth will likely depend on strategic engagement with progressive and independent-leaning audiences, who appear more receptive to AJE’s editorial framing and international coverage. However, broadening appeal to more ideologically conservative segments may risk diluting the connection with the outlet’s core base. Navigating this tension requires careful adjustment: expanding reach without compromising credibility or brand identity. Continued focus on values-aligned targeting and differentiated content offerings may offer the most sustainable path toward deeper engagement and market influence.