I'm very glad to hear that Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist has been released in the early hours of July 4th, 2007.
This story brings home to me the fact that people like me, and others that I know, who like to go and get footage of events, news articles and such are not as free as they imagine.
The press and to a certain extent, amateur filmmakers should be allowed to report issues and stories without being in fear of their own lives being taken by those less than savoury elements in various societies.
I hope he recovers from his ordeal, and can return to what he loves doing again.
I, as a filmmaker often go out, and not look after my own safety when filming, so I can get 'that perfect shot', and this issue does make me think about issues around the press, and their freedom. I don't think that the press should be able to invade peoples privacy, but they should be able to report facts, and current events without being in fear of being taken hostage, being shot at, run down, or anything else.
OH well, back to dangling out of the back of a car at 40MPH, with another car in close pursuit.