It's Daniel. This picture is from the BBC.
The whole thing seemed confused and almost unplanned, like a crime of opportunity with different people leaping up to claim to be the "spokesman" for the kidnappers. If Daniel Pearl is dead, I suspect he was probably killed shortly after they got him; certainly, they didn't provide anything that might indicate he was really alive (the photo of a man with his head down doesn't count)
I hope we find somebody to really blast on this one. Killing journalists is a bad precedent; no matter how sketchy (or even biased, in some cases, not Pearl's) a report is, at least it provides us with more information than we would have had without it. But of course, truth is the enemy of Islam...
It's Daniel. This picture is from the BBC.
SEATTLE, DEC. 19
The risk faced by journalists who work in war zones, report on crime, or express controversial positions has been brought starkly to light in a report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Released Dec. 17, the IFJ summary indicates that 100 journalists were killed in 2001 because of their work. This is the highest total in six years.
"The roll of media casualties provides a tragic reminder of the price we pay for press freedom and democracy," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary, in releasing the report. "It is time for media companies to work together on new initiatives to reduce the risks facing their staff. We need more training, better equipment and provision of insurance for all, including freelance journalists."
The IFJ acknowledges that several large media organizations, including CNN, the BBC, Reuters and Associated Press have begun codes of practice to improve safety for journalists. "But this is only the start," said White. "We need an industry-wide response that gives all players -- small media and freelance workers included -- access to the benefits of risk-awareness training."
The IFJ tally includes journalists who have died throughout the world. The tragic total was swelled by the deaths of eight reporters over a 14-day period in Afghanistan.
Based in Brussels, the IFJ represents around 450,000 members in more than 100 countries.