Al Jazeera runs its own fact-checking agency, Sanad. The team is built for investigative journalism — verifying news and producing open-source intelligence (OSINT) stories. Accurate, well-researched coverage depends on getting the right data.
Satellite imagery is part of that data. But it isn’t always easy to get. Providers limit which imagery can be bought, and what can be published. For many media companies, that friction is enough to deter them from using satellite imagery at all.
Sanad needed a partner that could connect them to the right providers, keep costs predictable, and deliver imagery every week. SkyWatch did exactly that — and gave Al Jazeera a real competitive edge.
The Challenge
Al Jazeera’s OSINT team verifies geopolitical events using satellite imagery. They track things like aircraft movements, shipments, and construction activity around the world.
Getting that imagery wasn’t simple. The team needed a solution that was:
- Affordable, so they could buy imagery several times a week
- Fast, so they could capture specific areas on a tight news cycle
- Compliant with each provider’s rules and regulations
Few providers met all three needs at once.
Why Al Jazeera Chose SkyWatch
Al Jazeera compared several providers. SkyWatch was the most efficient and cost-effective.
Most providers ask for large upfront payments. SkyWatch uses a pay-as-you-go model instead. The Sanad team could buy only the area they needed, with no minimum order. That flexibility mattered, because they buy imagery a few times a week at different resolutions and need to stay on budget.
Support made a difference too. SkyWatch’s team helped Sanad search for and acquire imagery quickly. When the team had unusual requests — like sourcing imagery they couldn’t find on their own — SkyWatch connected them directly with providers.
SkyWatch’s partnerships with the world’s leading imagery providers gave Sanad confidence they could meet their goals.
How SkyWatch Connects Technical and Non-Technical Teams
SkyWatch’s enterprise offering, HUB, helps organizations get more from their remote sensing data. It brings imagery procurement into one place: a fully indexed, organization-wide archive.
It also includes DirectView, a web-based tool for sharing imagery. Non-technical team members can view and use imagery without specialist software.
This matters for Al Jazeera. A dedicated task force handles the technical analysis, but the journalists who use the results are not technical experts. HUB’s multi-account structure organizes the data and closes the gap between the two groups — which leads to better-researched stories.
The Results
SkyWatch gives Al Jazeera three clear advantages:
Consistent Monitoring
Satellite data lets the team detect change and monitor areas of interest from anywhere.
Stronger Reporting
SkyWatch imagery supports more detailed analysis of news events.
Reliable Sources
Timely captures and accurate attribution make sources more credible and easier to trust.
How Al Jazeera Uses SkyWatch HUB
Each week, Al Jazeera tasks satellites or buys archived imagery. They rely on high to very-high-resolution images — 15 to 70 cm — usually in True Colour.
The team uses geographic information system (GIS) tools to make the imagery easier to interpret. SkyWatch’s API integrates with these tools, so data flows smoothly between systems.
For teams that use Esri ArcGIS Pro, SkyWatch offers a custom add-in. It lets users buy satellite imagery inside ArcGIS Pro itself — making imagery easier to access and analyze than ever.
What This Means for the Media Industry
Al Jazeera’s story shows that satellite data is now accessible and reliable enough for everyday journalism. Demand is growing, and more journalists see imagery as a key tool for in-depth analysis.
By using SkyWatch, Al Jazeera solved its imagery challenges and strengthened its reporting. The result: accurate, timely coverage and deeper investigative work — with a workflow that serves both technical and non-technical staff.
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