China: CFWIJ Hails The Courageous Female Journalist Who Confronted A Kidnapper, Saving A Young Boy

Location: China
Date: January 26, 2021

PHOTO CREDIT: THEPAPER.CN

A female journalist in Kunming City of China’s Yunnan province is being commended for negotiating with a kidnapper holding a young boy hostage. The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds the reporter’s bravery.

According to local media reports, the kidnapper, a 56-year-old man, had killed one person and injured several others before taking the boy hostage. The kidnapper, over a loudspeaker, told the police not to approach him. He instead demanded a reporter to deliver a message, asking specifically for a female reporter.

Many had guessed the woman to be a negotiator sent by the police, but Kunming’s journalist association told the media she was a reporter. The journalist had only recently received her press card, working for Yunnan television and radio station.

Media reporters citing Kunming’s journalist association said that the young journalist played a crucial role in calming the kidnapper. In talking to him and keeping him engaged, the reporter enabled police to take a clear shot at the kidnapper.

Following the incident, the hashtag #Kunmingwomanjournalist was trending on the internet with millions of views and thousands of comments. Despite the praise, the journalist is to undergo therapy as the incident left her quite frightened.

CFWIJ hails the reporter’s courage and expresses concern for the mental health of all journalists working and living in areas riddled with crime and conflict.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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