Freelance journalist Austin Tice had his work published by the McClatchy Newspapers, the Washington Post, Associated Press, CBS, NPR and the BBC. His reporting earned him the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting and the 2012 McClatchy Newspapers President’s Award.
But in August 2012, the talented journalist disappeared in Syria.
Since September 2012, Reporters Without Borders, also known as Reporters Sans Frontiéres (RSF), has been assisting and advising Austin’s family. Austin’s parents asked RSF to help them raise awareness about their son’s disappearance and partnered with J. Walter Thompson New York to create a public awareness campaign to do everything possible to bring Austin safely home.
Thus was born the #FreeAustinTice, a pro bono campaign developed by J. Walter Thompson New York.
RSF’s Secretary General Christophe Deloire said of the effort, “With the #FreeAustinTice campaign, RSF calls on Austin’s captors to release him without delay and invites all American media and citizens to join Austin’s parents’ appeal. The #FreeAustinTice campaign is launched at a critical moment when the White House is reviewing its policy to secure the release of American hostages.”
People across the globe can take part in the initiative by signing a petition addressed to President Obama and by taking The Blindfold Pledge. To take the pledge, supporters can take a photo of themselves blindfolded and share the photo with a call to action across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #FreeAustinTice.
Beginning today, with the support of Gannett & USA Today, GlobalPost, Hearst Newspaper Group, McClatchy Newspapers, The Atlantic Media Group, The Washington Post, the National Press Club and the Newseum, all official partners of the campaign, #FreeAustinTice flash banners will be published on more than 268 news websites for several weeks across the United States.
This collective and collaborative mobilization of the American media to raise awareness about a missing American journalist is a first in U.S. media history.
After almost 1,000 days since Austin’s disappearance in what is called the world’s most dangerous country for journalists, his family is more than ready for his safe release and with the help of the American media and supporters across social media, there is an enormous amount of support and hope that Austin will return home soon.
“We continue to urge our government to do more to secure Austin’s safe return, and we believe public participation in the campaign will amplify our voice and truly make a difference,” said Austin’s parents, Debra and Marc Tice.
— To support the #FreeAustinTice cause and find out how you can help, please visit http://freeaustintice.rsf.org and click here to find out more about the campaign.
