News Organizations Withhold Kidnapping of AP Reporter in Somalia

Strategic Insights -

Tina Susman, a reporter for The Associated Press, was held captive in Somalia for 20 days before being released in good health on Friday. While news organizations around the world agreed not to report the kidnapping, editors claimed that they withheld the information to avoid putting Susman in greater danger. Editors from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News defended their decision, stating that publicity could have increased the risk to her life.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 15 news organizations, including The Associated Press, Reuters, and USA Today, knew about but did not report the abduction of Tina Susman.
  • Editors from major news organizations, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, were asked by AP editors to withhold the information, citing potential danger to Susman.
  • The editors claimed that they would have made the same decision if Susman were a civilian, not a journalist.
  • The AP president, Louis D. Boccardi, described the kidnapping as a "street crime" and believed the abductors were motivated by ransom rather than politics.
  • Several editors stated that the kidnapping's lack of political motivation and Susman's relatively unknown status influenced their decision to withhold information.
  • The editors also cited the police's request to refrain from reporting abductions, claiming that publicity can embolden kidnappers and increase demands.
  • The New York Post withheld information on the 1974 abduction of Patricia Hearst at the request of the police, and The New York Post withheld information on the 1995 abduction of Queens businessman Harvey Weinstein.

Statistics:

  • 20 days: Tina Susman was held captive in Somalia before being released in good health.
  • 15: The number of news organizations that knew about but did not report the abduction of Tina Susman.
  • 2: The number of times that news organizations withheld information on abductions at the request of the police, namely the 1974 abduction of Patricia Hearst and the 1995 abduction of Harvey Weinstein.

Sources:

  • "News Organizations Barred From Reporting Kidnapping in Somalia." The Associated Press.
  • The New York Times.
  • The Washington Post.
  • NBC News.
  • Bernard Gwertzman, foreign editor of The New York Times.
  • Louis D. Boccardi, president of The Associated Press.
  • Jackson Diehl, assistant managing editor for foreign news at The Washington Post.
  • Peter S. Prichard, editor of USA Today.