Veteran Al Jazeera broadcaster Jamil Azar dies at 89

Veteran Jordanian journalist Jamil Azar has died in London at the age of 89, following a long and distinguished career that spanned decades across Arab and international media.

Azar was among the most recognisable radio voices in the Arab world from the 1960s onwards. He began his career with the British Broadcasting Corporation before becoming one of the founding figures of Al Jazeera, where he later held senior editorial and media roles.

He played a key role in shaping professional standards in news presentation and television broadcasting, contributing to the development of modern Arab media during a formative period for the industry.

Azar was widely admired for his dignified on-air style, distinctive voice and strong editorial discipline. Colleagues and former students often described him as a role model whose work combined linguistic precision with professional integrity, influencing generations of Arab journalists and broadcasters.

His career was closely linked to pivotal moments in the evolution of Arab radio and television, at a time when broadcast media represented the primary window through which Arab audiences engaged with the wider world.

Journalists and media institutions across the region paid tribute to Azar, highlighting his lasting contribution to Arab media discourse and his enduring legacy in training and inspiring successive generations of media professionals.

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