from our own correspondent

A program by this name airs on the BBC World Service every week. This program consists of around 4 essays , which generally concern a current news item but are given a much more personalised touch by correspondents from different locations around the globe. Through their personal experience during the assignment, you get a much deeper insight of the situation they're reporting on, as well as some interesting anecdotes, sometimes funny, sometimes poignantly sad. One frequent voice during this program, and practically heard on a daily basis since the place where he was posted is barely ever out of the news, was that of Alan Johnston. It's been over a month since Alan disappeared, presumably kidnapped. Most ironically, his posting in Gaza was set to end a couple of weeks later.

Yesterday, a previosuly unknown Palestinian group claimed that they had killed Mr Johnston. Like thousands of others, I hope against hope that this isn't true, for his sake, his family and the Palestinians. For three years, with his kind, husky voice, Alan reported on the situation in Gaza in an unbiased, always humane manner. The plight of the locals was highlighted. He was their friend and well-loved. An impeccably professional journalist. The group claimed that they kidnapped and killed him to highlight the situation of Palestinian prisoners which is ignored contrasting with the awareness that was sparked concerning a single Westerner. If this is the case, they are certainly not helping the Palestinian cause. Journalists will deem it too dangerous to risk their lives to report from there. And besides the loss of an esteemed journalist, that would be a great shame.