LONG BEACH — “I am hear to tell you that the future that we were dreaming for [in the Middle East] has eventually arrived,” Wadah Khanfar, director general of the Al Jazeera network, told the audience at the Technology Entertainment and Design conference (TED) on Tuesday, speaking about the recent popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya that have toppled long-standing governments.

“A new generation, well-educated, connected, inspired by universal values and a global understanding has created a new reality for us,” he said.

Khanfar addressed the audience of powerful movers and shakers on...