Al-Monitor was launched on 13 February 2012 by Jamal Daniel.[1] It was founded with the mission to foster a deeper understanding between the Middle East and the international community by diving deep with analytical pieces from some of the most trusted, independent authors from across the globe.[1]
In 2018, Al-Monitor partnered with North Base Media which was founded by Marcus Brauchli and Sasa Vucinic to manage Al-Monitor in order "to provide top-level operational and financial decision-making, and work with the company to explore possible content and commercial avenues."[4]
In 2015, Al-Monitor relaunched its website and expanded coverage to include further reporting on Washington, the addition of a culture section, a new podcast and video coverage.[5][6] In 2023, Al-Monitor launched its business[7] and technology[8] coverage, released several newsletters[9] and introduced a subscription model to access its content. In 2024, Al-Monitor integrated article translation in seven languages and narrated audio to listen to articles.
In 2014, the International Press Institute awarded Al-Monitor its Free Media Pioneer Award, stating that Al-Monitor's "unrivalled reporting and analysis exemplify the invaluable role that innovative and vigorously independent media can play in times of change and upheaval".[3]
In January 2013, Ian Burrell of The Independent called Al-Monitor "an ambitious website that pulls together the commentary of distinguished writers from across the region."[16][17] In 2012, former The Washington Post foreign affairs blogger Max Fisher called Al-Monitor "an invaluable Web-only publication following the Middle East."[18]The Huffington Post has referred to Al-Monitor as "increasingly a daily must-read for insightful commentary on the Middle East",[19] and The Economist recommended Al-Monitor's Egypt and Iran coverage in its What to Read section.[20][21]
Al-Monitor, alone among independent media outlets covering the Middle East, has covered the entire region – including field reporting and high-profile interviews from Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, Egypt, the Gulf and North Africa – and all governments consistently since inception in 2012, leading to its unique standing in the region.
Its coverage of Syria has been recognized for the stellar on the ground reporting by Amberin Zaman, as well as independent and opposition-affiliated Syrian reporters in Idlib, Aleppo, and elsewhere, working under often dangerous and difficult conditions. Al-Monitor, throughout its history, has featured contributors from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, avoiding the taint of 'bias' in its coverage of Israeli-Palestinian issues. Its inclusive and groundbreaking initiatives included a collaboration with PBS News Hour featuring a discussion with an Iranian academic (from Tehran), an Israeli reporter (from Tel Aviv), and former US officials including Dennis Ross and Fiona Hill (from Washington).[22]
