Ann Curry In Talks With Al Jazeera America, Controversial Qatar Network

Amid reports that former Today show anchor Ann Curry would likely not join her former boss, Jeff Zucker, at CNN, a new report revealed that she is entertaining a new job offer.

Curry has been approached by a new network, Al Jazeera America, a Qatar-government owned network.

The network's parent company, Al Jazeera, bought Current TV from former vice president Al Gore for $500 million in January and re-branded the network Al Jazeera America. The company has their eyes set on acquiring top news anchors such as Ann Curry to help generate buzz.

According to a report, Curry has begun discussions about opportunities with the new network while simultaneously negotiating with CNN.

"Ann has had informal talks about working for the new Al Jazeera operation in America which is expected to formally launch later this year," a source told Radar Online.

"She's extremely interested in what the network will be doing in the U.S. and has always held their reporting in high regard. She's still in talks with CNN, but the opportunity of being front and center at the launch of a new international news channel, especially one that promises to shake up and challenge existing reporting of world events, is something that greatly appeals to her."

When Gore sold Current TV in January, the deal was deemed controversial and he was been hit with criticism from fellow media colleagues and political pundits.

Bill O'Reilly, a political commentator who has his own show, The O-Reilly Factor on Fox News channel, reportedly said "Gore has shamed himself simply by selling to Al Jazeera." 

Another vocal right-winged media reporter, Glenn Beck, reportedly called Gore "un-American" for selling to Al Jazeera.

Gore addressed the criticism on Charlie Rose Show.  He said Al Jazeera is a "respected" company that "tells it like it is" and called Fox news' reports on the matter as "propaganda."

"They're commercial-free, they're hard-hitting," Gore told Associated Press about the company that has won several U.S. journalism prizes. "They're very respected and capable, and their climate coverage has been outstanding, in-depth, extensive, far more so than any network currently on the air in the U.S."

Last week, Daily Show host Jon Stewart questioned Gore's move to sell the network to a "non-fossil fuel based buyer" when Gore has been vocal about global warming issues over the years. Stewart called it an "odd move."

"You had an opportunity to make a statement, probably, about your principles," Stewart told Gore, "and some people would feel, and for me as well, I thought it was an odd move. Not because of some of the other things, but because it is backed by fossil fuel money." 

"I get it. I get it. I get it," Gore replied. "But it was an easy choice after doing the diligence on the network itself."