I haven’t commented on the kidnapping of Alan Johnston yet on this blog. I felt that I couldn’t add anything significant to the global debate, so I opted to keep quiet.
But, after seeing the clip of him released by his captors yesterday, I feel I must comment now.
If you haven’t seen the footage, you can see it here.
Incredible. Alan Johnston has been in captivity for over 100 days now. Somehow, he delivered that piece to camera with extraordinary professionalism, clarity and bravery. He even keeps his journalistic morals intact. “My captors say” and “what they describe as” are two phrases that stuck out for me. Alan is being impartial, even at a time like this.
A member on a journalism message board I frequent wrote that it “made me sit up a bit straighter at my cosy desk”. A feeling I certainly agree with today.
There are times when I’ve been working, as a student, freelance or work experience fellow, and I’ve been scared to death to do things. Interviews with people that might be slightly scary. But now I have a different attitude. Next time I find myself confronted with a frightening situation, I will ‘Think Alan Johnston’ — for nothing I will ever do can compare to the sheer terror that Alan must be feeling each and every day.
I must always remember that.
Sign the BBC petition to release Alan Johnston here.
