In news suppressed by major U.S. news outlets until now, freelance reporter Jill Carroll has been kidnapped while on assignment in Iraq for the Christian Science Monitor. Her Iraqi interpreter, one of many who risk their lives as much as any journalist, was killed in the Saturday morning kidnapping. According to Editor & Publisher, the news was withheld initially at the Monitor's request and released after it appeared in dozens of news outlets outside the U.S. I'll deal with the futility of withholding news in the Internet Age another time. News stories: CSM | E&P. (Links via Romenesko.)
Now I join the Monitor and others in urging the release of this journalist and the protection of her colleagues and the people who make their work possible. Without them we outside Iraq have no hope of ever understanding what is going on inside a war zone that is also a home to millions. My thoughts and prayers are with Jill and those who know and love her.
From the Monitor's statement:
"Jill's ability to help others understand the issues facing all groups in Iraq has been invaluable. We are urgently seeking information about Ms. Carroll and are pursuing every avenue to secure her release." -- Richard Bergenheim, Editor
It would be nice if someone removed the "give a gift subscription" ad from the bottom of the statement. I don't think anyone is trying to benefit; it just doesn't look good.
(Disclosure: I've freelanced for CSM since 2004 under far less dangerous circumstances.)
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