Reporters on the Job

from the April 3, 2007 edition

• Boycott of News: Palestinian journalists are boycotting coverage of Palestinian government as a way of showing support for BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped in Gaza on March 12 (see story). But the boycott presented staff writer Ilene Prusher, or at least the Palestinian freelancer in Gaza, with an ethical dilemma.

Ilene spoke to her Palestinian colleague in Gaza by phone after Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told Palestinian reporters that the kidnapping hurt the national interests of Palestinians. But afterward, the Palestinian journalists huddled and decided to comply with the boycott and not directly quote what he said. The Associated Press did quote Mr. Haniyeh. Ilene's colleague told her what Haniyeh said, but asked her to honor the boycott in support of the Western journalist.

World editor

DONKEYS AND SAINTS: In Torrita di Siena, Italy, riders compete on a racecourse around the village. The winner gets a canvas banner depicting Saint Joseph, patron of carpenters. REMO CASILLI/REUTERS More cultural snapshots

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