It’s not on the air yet but, already, Al Jazeera America is creating a buzz in the world of journalism. Unlike so many news outlets that have been shedding staff the past few years, it’s hiring (and hiring big), bringing on about 800 employees as it prepares to launch an ambitious cable news channel later this year.

As it aims to gain a foothold in the U.S., Al Jazeera America—one of more than 20 channels operated by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network—faces a lingering perception problem that has hindered previous efforts to penetrate the U.S. market. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the networks’ flagship, Al Jazeera Arabic, was widely viewed as a conduit for al Qaeda. And when the parent company created the Al Jazeera English satellite news channel seven years ago, most U.S. cable and satellite operators declined to carry it and most American viewers could access it only online. ... Read more »