Could the Arab sheiks save journalism?

IT ALWAYS seemed improbable that Arab sheiks could save journalism.

But in a business as troubled as t American television news, hope springs eternal, and the Al Jazeera network out of Qatar seemed to offer an opulent oasis.

In January, with great fanfare, it acquired the floundering Current TV network from Al Gore and his partners for some $500m (€388.8m). Then it announced it would replace Current with Al Jazeera America hire about 800 people in the US. More than 22,000 applied. Headhunting for top executives goes on.