In a world that is increasingly more authoritarian, in a political atmosphere that is more and more polarized and tribal everywhere, the threat of global hostage-taking has increased exponentially.
As the murder of Jamal Khashoggi illustrates, this threat has particularly increased for journalists, many of whom are on the front lines of reporting on repression and brutality. A record 262 journalists were jailed around the world at the end of 2018.
All of this raises the far larger question, one that journalists have to think about every day, of how should we deal, as a matter of public policy, with journalists or anyone other citizen that is taken, hostage.
The American policy has been that "we do not negotiate with hostage takers." This policy is not universal. Many nations, including France, Spain, and others have taken a different view. The answer is not clear cut or obvious. What is clear is that sometimes playing mister tough guy is just plains stupid.
Joel Simon, a long time journalists in California and Latin America, is the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalist. His new work is We Want to Negotiate: The Secret World of Kidnapping, Hostages and Ransom.
My conversation with Joel Simon:
We Are Our Information: A conversation with Caleb Scharf
Amazon, Bezos and a Global Empire
Our New Addiction to Outrage: The American Psychosis
Reasons for Hope in Rural America: A Conversation with Gigi Georges
A Conversation with Chris Matthews:
The Secret Service and its Time of Reckoning: A conversation with Carol Leonnig
What Happened In Wuhan? Why the Lab Leak Theory Has Gained Traction
Campaigns Matter: A conversation with Edward-Isaac Dovere
With The American Experiment on the Precipice, It's Good To Know Our Shared Origin Story: A Conversation with Historian Patrick O'Donnell
Why New York is New York
The Notorious Maxwells
We Need Uniters, Not Dividers: A Conversation with Tim Shriver
How the Rich Really Live and Why We All Should Care
A Time When Oscar Winning Movies Really Mattered: The Making of Midnight Cowboy
The Founding Mothers of NPR
Toxic Masculinity In An Oil Boomtown
Elon Musk IS Leading Us Into The Future
Imagining the Next World War : 2034
Come Fly With Me: The World of The Pan Am Stewardess Before "Me Too"
The Royals Have Outlived Their Value: Gilded Lives at the Expense of the British People
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
HauntingLive
Dr. Paul’s Worldviews
The Ben Shapiro Show
Morning Wire