Control Room

Control Room is a compelling 2004 documentary that offers a thought-provoking exploration of media perception and the impartiality of global news coverage. Directed by the acclaimed Egyptian-American filmmaker Jehane Noujaim and produced by Rosadel Varela, this 86-minute film casts a spotlight on the Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera during the opening stages of the Iraq War in 2003.

Samir Khader, a senior producer at Al Jazeera, emerges as one of the central figures in the narrative. Khader's insightful commentary and mercurial temperament bring a dynamic human element to the unfolding events. Serving as an immediate counterpoint to Khader's perspective is Josh Rushing, a press officer from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) who assists in managing the United States' media depiction of the war. The interaction between Khader and Rushing provides a fascinating depiction of the interplay between journalism and state power, as well as a portrayal of the personal challenges that arise when one's professional duties conflict with their personal beliefs.

Through a series of powerful interviews and revealing behind-the-scenes footage, Control Room offers a rare glimpse of Al Jazeera's newsroom during this turbulent period. Additionally, the film does an excellent job of portraying the often contentious environment at CENTCOM’s press briefing center in Doha, where the bulk of the Western media received their information about the war.

To add context and depth to the portrayal of these tumultuous events, Control Room features archival footage of then US President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, and a host of top military officials. Their public statements and press conferences serve as an engaging tool to analyze the messaging strategies employed by the U.S. administration. The approach is eye-opening and serves to posit a critique on the official narrative offered at the time.

The documentary further grants significant focus to the challenges of maintaining journalistic objectivity in the face of political pressure and the urgency of war. This is particularly emphasized through Khader and Rushing, who are confronted with the bias inherent in their respective professions. Khader, who admits to a pro-Arab perspective, grapples with the task of delivering balanced coverage while Rushing is tasked with presenting U.S. military activities in the best possible light.

Control Room puts forth the powerful claim that the war in Iraq provoked a realignment in the world's media landscape, paving the way for new players like Al Jazeera to present an alternative to the typically Western-dominated perspectives. Using the founding principles of journalism - accuracy, fairness, and balance - the documentary explores the sometimes-blurred lines between reporting the news and shaping it.

Moreover, the film’s portrayal of Al Jazeera helps to dismantle Western preconceptions about the network, by offering an insider's view of the ethical dilemmas and practical pressures faced by its journalists. On the other end, Rushing's journey provides a compelling personal narrative that mirrors a larger shift in the American perception of the war as it unfolded.

While Control Room is indeed a film about journalism and war, it is also an exploration of human nature, a study of how our backgrounds, beliefs, and biases shape the stories we tell and how we interpret the world around us. This is deeply encapsulated in the contemporaneous interviews, dramatic press briefings, and intense newsroom scenes that make this documentary as much about human emotions as it is about international geopolitics.

Jehane Noujaim's Control Room is ultimately an illuminating study of media war coverage that strikes a balance between being engaging and informative. It delivers crucial insight into one of the most dynamic and eventful periods in recent history, presented from an angle rarely captured on film. Overall, Control Room serves as an interesting reflection of our times and a profound commentary on the vital role of journalism in democracies.