After 2003, Al Jazeera became synonymous with reporting the Iraq invasion from a perspective that differed from American television. Having established a worldwide niche, the Qatar-based channel launched Al Jazeera America in 2013 with the goal of reporting U.S. news from a different slant than CNN, MSNBC and Fox. One of Al Jazeera America’s original news programs, “Hard Earned,” includes a Milwaukee angle and is produced in association with Milwaukee’s 371 Productions, whose resume includes programming for PBS as well as WUWM’s “Precious Lives” series.
“Hard Earned” is a series on five working-class American families including Milwaukee’s Percy and Beverly Evans, 60somethings who lost the middle-class jobs they held for many years and are struggling now with low pay, rising medical bills, aging and the prospect of bankruptcy. 371’s Brad Lichtenstein, who helmed such recent documentaries as “As Goes Janesville” and “Wisconsin Mining Standoff”, directs the Milwaukee segment.
“Hard Earned” debuts 9 p.m. Central Time, May 24 and continues for two more Sundays, May 30 and June 6, as part of the documentary series “Al Jazeera America Presents.”
