Justice and Human Rights United States Project #22962

Help Families of US Journalists kidnapped/jailed

by Reporters Without Borders-USA

Project Report | Aug 16, 2019
#AskAboutAustinTice Campaign

By Reporters Without Borders | Advocacy Team

Austin Tice, a native of Houston, Texas, veteran Captain in the United States Marine Corps and award-winning journalist, was about to enter his third year of law school at Georgetown University when he decided to travel to Syria as a freelance journalist. Austin wanted to cover the impact of the growing conflict and the consequences of urban warfare, especially on children. His coverage of Syria was published by several McClatchy newspapers, the Washington Post, Associated Press, AFP, as well as CBS, NPR, and BBC.

On August 14, 2012, he was detained at a checkpoint in Damascus and has not been in contact with his family since.

Today on the 7th year of Austin’s detainment, Reporters Without Borders and the Tice Family are asking our supporters and allies to take action on his behalf with a new campaign: “Ask About Austin Tice.” Announced in an op-ed by parents Debra and Marc Tice that ran in more than thirty American newspapers on Austin’s 38th birthday, the campaign encourages the American people to learn about Austin’s case, write to their members of Congress, and #AskAboutAustinTice.

As the only American journalist detained abroad, it is the Trump administration's responsibility to do everything in its power to bring him home. The “Ask About Austin Tice” campaign encourages every American to remind the US government that this is an urgent national priority.

Ready to show your support for Austin and the Tice family? Here’s how:

1. Learn more about Austin and share his story:

Read the Op-Ed
AskAboutAustinTice.org
Watch VANISHED: The Story of US journalist Austin Tice
Use #AskAboutAustinTice on social media

2. Sign the #FreeAustinTice Petition

3. Donate to the Fund for Families

4. Volunteer to canvas Capitol Hill to raise awareness for Austin's case

5. Attend Austin's Photo Exhibit at the Rayburn House Office Building on September 27-30th

Thank you to everyone for their ongoing and steadfast support of Austin and the campaign to bring him home safely.

Links:

https://rsf.org/en/news/us-should-redouble-efforts-secure-safe-return-detained-american-journalist-austin-tice

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Mar 4, 2019
The latest updated on the Fund for Families

By Hilary Koss | Development Manager, Reporters Without Borders USA

As we move further into 2019, I wanted to pause for a moment and speak with you about the Fund for Families of American Journalists Missing, Imprisoned or Held Hostage. The Fund provides financial assistance to the relatives and colleagues of missing American journalists in their efforts to secure the safe return and/or release of such journalists, including travel expenses, printing costs, communication expenses, legal expenses, and more.

You have already made a gift to the fund and it is through your generous actions that we can provide critical support to journalists and their families in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I cannot begin to thank you enough for your kindness and support.

Since we last spoke, The National Press Club launched a new project, a Night Out For Austin Tice, set for May 2. The funds raised from the evening will provide further incentive to the FBI reward and will be closely managed between the National Press Club and Austin’s parents, Marc and Debra. In anticipation of the event, The National Press Club and the Free Austin Tice Coalition partners will hold a news conference on Friday, March 8 at 10:30 a.m. As the Night Out for Austin Tice approaches, we’ll send you more details so you can plan to go out and support this excellent cause!

Austin was also a featured journalist in the Washington Post’s Super Bowl commercial, aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of overseas reporting. The Washington Post has and continues to be a compassionate supporter of the Tices and the Fund for Families, and we are so grateful for their efforts to raise Austin’s plight – and the plight of all journalists – to the world.

If you haven’t already, please take a moment to share that you have made this wonderful gift to the Fund for Families of American Journalists Missing, Imprisoned or Held Hostage with your friends and family. You can spread the story of Austin Tice with your network so we can keep the fight for his return at the forefront.

Thank you again for your gift to the Fund for Families. With your support, we will continue to fight to bring our journalists home soon.

All my best,
Hilary

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Dec 6, 2018
Thank you for supporting the Fund for Families

By Hilary Koss | Development Manager, Reporters Without Borders

As 2018 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to speak with you about the Fund for Families of American Journalists Missing, Imprisoned or Held Hostage.

You have already made a gift to the fund, providing transportation, assistance, and opportunity to families as they try and find their loved ones. It is through your generous actions that we can provide critical support to journalists and their families in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I cannot begin to thank you enough for your kindness and support.

Since we last spoke, the parents of Austin Tice, the American journalist detained in Syria since 2012, held multiple press conferences, including at the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) and at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. At the UNCA, Marc and Debra Tice called for direct engagement between the Syrian and US governments to bring Austin home (if you have not already seen Marc and Debra Tice's press conference, you can do so here). At the National Press Club, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Robert O'Brien, gave a briefing on the current state of the investigation. There was also a new project announced for 2019, a Night Out For Austin Tice. You can view the full press conference here.

Thank you again for your gift to the Fund for Families. With your support, we will continue to fight to bring our journalists home soon.

All my best,
Hilary

Links:

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Organization Information

Reporters Without Borders-USA

Location: Washington, DC - USA
Website: http://rsf.org/en
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Project Leader:
Reporters Without Borders USA
Washington , District of Columbia United States

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Help Families of US Journalists kidnapped/jailed

Project Report | Aug 16, 2019 #AskAboutAustinTice Campaign

Mar 4, 2019 The latest updated on the Fund for Families

Dec 6, 2018 Thank you for supporting the Fund for Families

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Reporters Without Borders-USA

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Project Report | Aug 16, 2019
#AskAboutAustinTice Campaign

Mar 4, 2019
The latest updated on the Fund for Families

Dec 6, 2018
Thank you for supporting the Fund for Families