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Revision as of 18:25, 7 July 2007 by RichardWeiss (talk | contribs) (rm current as he is home now)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Alan Johnston | |
|---|---|
| Education | MA in English and politics (Dundee) Diploma in Journalism Studies (Cardiff) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Parent(s) | Graham and Margaret Johnston |
Alan Graham Johnston (born May 17 1962) is a British journalist working for the BBC. He has been the BBC's correspondent in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and the Gaza Strip. The only Western journalist permanently based in Gaza, he was kidnapped by a group of Palestinian militants calling themselves the "Army of Islam" on March 12 2007, and released nearly four months later on July 4.
Biography
Johnston was born in Lindi, Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania), to Graham and Margaret Johnston and was educated at Dollar Academy in Dollar, Scotland. He went on to study at Dundee University, where he graduated with an MA in English and politics. Johnston also has a diploma in Journalism Studies from the University of Wales in Cardiff.
Journalism
Johnston joined the BBC in 1991, and has spent eight years as a correspondent for the BBC, including in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as well as Kabul, Afghanistan. He was in Kabul when Afghanistan was still under the control of the Taliban. He was due to be the BBC's full-time correspondent in Gaza until April 1, 2007, and at the time of his kidnapping was the only foreign reporter with a major Western media organisation to still be based in the city.
Johnston covered many major stories in Gaza for the BBC, including Israel's unilateral disengagement plan in 2005, Hamas winning the 2006 legislative elections, the 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict and the Palestinian factional violence of late 2006 to 2007.
Johnston is regarded by the BBC as a respected, experienced journalist, and due to his local knowledge, he was someone other journalists would turn to for information when in Gaza.
Johnston's BBC colleague Paul Adams noted that it was Johnston's "job to bring us day after day reports of the Palestinian predicament in the Gaza Strip." Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Information Minister, has described Johnston as a "friend of our people", and said that Johnston "has done a lot for our cause." Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti has also called Johnston a "friend of the Palestinian people".
When not working as a correspondent, Johnston produces radio reports, one of which, on life after the Taliban, won a Sony Radio Academy Award bronze. Johnston has also worked as programme editor of The World Today and as a general reporter in the BBC World Service newsroom.
The London Press Club named Johnston as British Broadcasting Journalist of the Year at an awards ceremony held on May 10, 2007. Accepting the award for Johnston, who was spending his 60th day in captivity, his father said that while the award meant a lot, "my family ... would like Alan to stand here today himself."
The day after he was released, Johnston was awarded a prize by Amnesty International for his radio reports on human rights in Gaza, praising him for his "commitment to telling ordinary peoples' stories."
Kidnapping
Main article: Kidnapping of Alan Johnston
On March 12, 2007, Johnston's car was found abandoned on a street, shortly after he had left his office to drive home. He had entered Gaza from Israel earlier in the day, where he had been for a dental appointment. A business card belonging to Johnston was found at the scene, identifying him as having been in the car at the time of his kidnapping The BBC was alerted to his disappearance when he did not make an arranged telephone call.
His captivity led to many protests in the Palestinian territories, as well as the British government meeting a Hamas member for the first time. On April 15 unconfirmed reports claimed that he had been murdered. A tape claiming to be from Johnston's kidnappers surfaced on May 8, leading to renewed hope that he would soon be released, and three weeks later a Hamas spokesperson spoke of his hope that Johnston would be freed quickly. Johnston then appeared in a video released online by his alleged kidnappers on June 1. Hopes were raised for his release in mid-June after Hamas took full control of Gaza and set a deadline for his release, but on June 24 a video of him wearing what he said was an explosive belt was released, along with a warning that if attempts were made to rescue him by force it would be detonated.
On July 4, Johnston was freed, according to Hamas without any ransom being paid, and was taken to meet Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh before leaving with an entourage of British diplomats to Jerusalem.
References
- ^ Staff writer (2007-03-12). "Fears for BBC Gaza correspondent". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Raymond Hainey (2007-04-16). "The 'very grounded' journalist who won acclaim for his work in world's war zones". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Mitchell Prothero (2007-04-09). "Journalist's tragic role in Gaza's deadly rivalries". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Staff writer (2007-03-12). "Living with risk in Gaza". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Kevin Flower and Octavia Nasr (2007-03-12). "BBC fears its Gaza correspondent abducted". CNN. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Conal Urquhart (2007-03-13). "Masked gunmen kidnap British reporter in Gaza City street attack". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rory McCarthy (2007-03-14). "Hamas government acts to free kidnapped BBC man". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Staff writer (2007-04-11). "Broadcasters in BBC reporter plea". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Associated Press (2007-04-18). "Barghouti calls for release of BBC journalist". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "The News Programme Award". Sony Radio Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
- BBC (March 2007). "Biographies - Alan Johnston BBC Gaza Correspondent". Retrieved 2007-04-10.
- Craig Brown (2007-05-11). "Missing reporter is journalist of year". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Staff writer (2007-07-05). "BBC's Johnston wins Amnesty award". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Leigh Holmwood and other news agencies (2007-03-13). "No word on missing BBC journalist". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Adam Entous/Reuters (2007-04-05). "British envoy to meet Palestinian PM". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
{{cite news}}:|author=has generic name (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - "'We killed BBC reporter', Palestinian group says". Ynetnews. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Staff writer (2007-06-01). "Video released of BBC's Johnston". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Staff writer (2007-06-25). "Johnston in new 'bomb vest' video". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
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