2006 Fall Culutural Program Al Jazeera Josh Rushing

NEWS RELEASE

 

Immediate: September 27, 2006

Contact: Alicia Steger 516.572.9634

e-mail: alicia.steger@ncc.edu

The Nassau Community College Fall 2006 Cultural Program Presents: "Once a Marine Corps Captain - Now the Face of “Al Jazeera:” My Story by Josh Rushing"

October 16Garden City, NY – The Nassau Community College Fall 2006 Cultural Program is proud to present Once a Marine Corps Captain—Now the Face of “Al Jazeera:” My Story, featuring Josh Rushing, on Monday, October 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the College Center Building. Washington, D.C.-based Rushing will be a news correspondent for the Arabic news network Al Jazeera’s new international news channel.Josh Rushing was born in Lewisville Texas in 1972. At 18, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. While he was in the military, Rushing obtained a bachelor’s degree in classic civilizations and ancient history from the University of Texas. On September 11, 2001, he was serving as a public affairs officer based at what is now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, north of San Diego. Rushing says that after September 11, he asked his commanders to send him overseas. In early 2003, when U.S. Central Command set up a media operations center in Doha, Qatar, for the war in Iraq, Rushing was ordered to go there. He became the liaison to Al Jazeera. In the widely seen documentary Control Room, Rushing is the only American who figures prominently. Earlier this year, after he left the military, Al Jazeera approached Rushing about joining its new 24-hour international news channel as a correspondent. Although Rushing is the most prominent American hired so far, Al Jazeera has hired reporters and producers from the Associated Press, the BBC, CNN and Fox News. The English-language channel will have broadcast centers in many locations around the world, including Washington, where Rushing now lives. Although Al Jazeera has yet to reach any agreements to be carried by cable systems and satellite operators that serve the U.S., the company expects to sign such contracts in time to be on the air in America next spring. Rushing says his new bosses will not try to dictate his commentary.Once a Marine Corps Captain—Now the Face of “Al Jazeera:” My Story, is free, open to the public and accessible to the disabled. For more information about this or any other NCC Cultural Program, call 516-572-7153.

 

-30-

Ref:1018.9/27/06/200