Mike Hudack

My friend Brian Conley, producer of the excellent Alive in Baghdad, has been detained by Chinese authorities in Beijing.  He was documenting pro-Tibet protests when he was arrested.  Four others were rounded up as well.

Brian sent a text to his wife at 12:30 Beijing time saying “in jail.  all fine.”

I’m worried about Brian.  He’s a man willing to accept serious personal risk in order to cover important untold stories.  His Alive in Baghdad series showed what life in Iraq was like for ordinary Iraqis — a seriously underreported story.  Even after one of Brian’s Iraqi reporters was killed by a death squad, Brian soldiered on without regard for his own safety or well-being.

His Alive in Mexico series showed what life was like in southern Mexico while street battles waged between rebels and the federal police.

Brian represents the best of independent journalism, the best of journalism, and the best of a generation that has too often rested on its laurels when it comes to the realities of the wider world.  He is a precious national resource.

I hope that the State Department considers this incident a priority.  Hopefully they are already providing consular assistance and working diligently to secure Brian’s release.  They must not allow other priorities to interfere with this necessary work.  

Good news: Reuters now has the story.