Al Jazeera Media Network is a private media conglomerate funded in part by the government of Qatar. It was originally launched with financial backing from the Qatari government, notably with a loan from Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the then Emir of Qatar. The network is owned by QMC, the official state broadcaster of Qatar. Although Al Jazeera claims editorial independence, many critics note its close financial and administrative ties to the Qatari government. The chairman of Al Jazeera is Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family.
