Al-Jazeera has launched a new Transparency Unit website parallelly to the release of almost 1,700 leaked documents relating to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, according to journalism.co.uk.
The new platform enables the public to submit content to the broadcaster such as documents, photos, audio and video clips, and story tip-offs, to be reviewed by its editorial team for potential coverage. The site also currently houses a database of the Palestine Papers, which can be searched by key words, date, location and participants.
The unit said all content submitted to it will be subject to "a rigorous vetting and authentication process" which will include "fierce adherence to our tradecraft commitment of 'journalism of depth'". Files submitted will be encrypted while they are transmitted. They are then uploaded and stored on Al-Jazeera's secure servers and only journalists working within the unit will be able to access them.
Over the past few months, Al-Jazeera has had access to the cache of almost 1,700 files, which includes memos, emails, maps, minutes from private meetings and strategy papers, and dates from 1999 to 2010. It claims that it is the biggest leak in the history of the Middle East conflict, detailing continuing negotiations involving American, Israeli, and Palestinian Authority officials.
The Guardian claims it was given exclusive access to the 'Palestine Papers' by Al-Jazeera. The newspaper's coverage of the leaked documents will be supplemented by WikiLeaks cables from the US consulate in Jerusalem and embassy in Tel Aviv.
