Al Jazeera Sees Major Instagram Growth in Q2 2025

July 23, 2025

Written by Haley Corzo
Al Jazeera English experienced significant growth in Instagram engagement during Q2 2025, marking a 26% increase compared to Q1, topping out at a little over 35 million engagements between April and June this year. 

This uptick was largely driven by major international news and the publisher’s ability to be a trusted source of real-time, on-the-ground coverage via Instagram Reels, where short-form visual storytelling proved especially effective in capturing audience attention and encouraging engagement.

timeline of Al Jazeera engagement
The most notable spike in engagement occurred in mid-June, coinciding with Israel’s attacks on Iran. Al Jazeera’s visuals from the region, including footage of missile strikes and civilian response, were widely interacted with. A Reel that captured the barrage of Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv drew over 250k engagements alone.

Other standout content included coverage of activist Greta Thunberg’s “Freedom Flotilla” journey and the aftermath of Pope Francis’ death. Thunberg’s arrival in Paris resonated widely and generated more than 180k engagements. Earlier in the quarter, Pope Francis’ death and the Vatican’s response also gained significant traction, with several posts topping 170k engagements.

A key driver of the account’s sustained visibility was its focused reporting on Gaza, Israel, and Iran. Of the top 1,000 posts published during the quarter, an overwhelming 723 centered on these regions, highlighting not only the public’s deep interest but also the extent to which Al Jazeera has become a trusted source on these topics. 

The data suggests that Al Jazeera’s blend of fast-reporting, authenticity, and subject matter relevance continues to resonate strongly with its Instagram audience.

For more on how publishers drove success, head over to our report.

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Haley Corzo

Haley is a Content Strategist for NewsWhip working at the intersection of journalism and marketing. With experience working in advertising for consumer brands, she brings a fresh perspective on how NewsWhip’s technology can be used to make an impact. She is passionate about topics such as mental health, women’s issues, and travel.

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