As much as I welcome the return of this reporter to his loved ones. Is it just me, or do others feel the coverage and almost canonization of the man is a tad OTT?

This man against the advise of his colleagues chose to stay in Gaza. He was fully aware of the dangers involved as he had intimate knowledge of the region, Gaza in particular.

Why did he stay ? Well I for one feel the lure of the "story" was too great as was his fame within his circle of journalists pals for staying in the danger zone and getting his story out.

The real reason for my gripe is journalist ram "they are after the story" and should "never be the story" down folks throats almost as if this mantra equated to the hypocratic ( spelling, still drunk ...sorry) oath.

Over the days of almost total Johnston coverage, how many unnamed and by the media quickly forgotten, young men and women have lost their lives fighting for their country. The debate of why they are there aside. They are there, and are true heroes in my eyes, not some reporter who to a great degree was the architect of his own misfortune.

D-amn it where's my Chang.

D-amn it where's my Chang.

Kayo the Klown wabbit took it

Hi suiging,

I don't disagree with you, but who can ever control the world's media especially when one of their own is concerened.

In a similar fashion, tragic though it was - and is - I have never seen such a media frenzy over the kidnapping of the little girl in Spain recently. It went on day after day week after week, - not only in the British media, but the whole world's media, including CNN etc. Very sad, but not the only case of it's kind - most of which disappear off the front pages within a couple of days.

As far as Alan Johnston is concerned - well as as I say -they will always go over the top for 'one of their own', and in mitigation, I suspect that the incredible, non stop publicity and protests over the kidnapping almost certainly contributed towards his release. The key to the story was that Johnston was always fair in his reporting and always put the Palestinian case very well, and it was only hurting the Palestinian cause by kidnapping him. The message obviously got through. This would not necessarily be the case with other kidnappings.

As for Johnston himself - yes he was doing his job and knew the risks. A brave man? undoubtedly. A saint? Not really.

hafta say though, that regardless of him taking those risks and the OTT coverage, was great seeing him looking healthy and smiling. I dont know if the smile betrays some inner turmoil, but still, glad hes safe and well.

Where are you based suiging?

I thought it's been handled well by the BBC from the coverage I've seen here in Thailand - it's hardly been blanket, except on the day he was released (and I personally thought the story deserved that much coverage).

Lets face it - he was in an area no other journalist would dare go into, reporting news from that area that needed to be reported. He appeared to hold his integrity brilliantly during captivity - I don't think many of us would fare that well in similar situations. Throughout the only obvious mention on the BBC website was a link bottom-right of the front page campaigning for his release.

His release has also been a discussion point with friends recently, also indicating the popularity of the story. IMO, hats off to Alan and the BBC throughout.

Hong Kong....Sky News hours upon hours of pap.

I mean no respect to the way he handled himself, admirable in every way.

However, the real spark for my ire was when they cut from a story of another 100 plus blow to bits in Iraq and a further two British dead in the South for live pictures of his pals in UK enjoying a pint.

I know only good news sells. However the lack of respect for the dead, was the last straw.

I suspect it was a scam to get viewer figures up and he was holed up all the time in comfort in the Gaza Hilton.

Over the days of almost total Johnston coverage, how many unnamed and by the media quickly forgotten, young men and women have lost their lives fighting for their country. The debate of why they are there aside. They are there, and are true heroes in my eyes, not some reporter who to a great degree was the architect of his own misfortune.

Athough, in many ways I felt that he deserved his fate for giving favorable coverage to the very terrorists who ended up kidnapping him, I'm still glad that he is free and with his family.

Over the days of almost total Johnston coverage, how many unnamed and by the media quickly forgotten, young men and women have lost their lives fighting for their country. The debate of why they are there aside. They are there, and are true heroes in my eyes, not some reporter who to a great degree was the architect of his own misfortune.

Athough, in many ways I felt that he deserved his fate for giving favorable coverage to the very terrorists who ended up kidnapping him, I'm still glad that he is free and with his family.

Anybody risking their butt by entering conflict zones , rather than just filing White House press releases is supporting terrorism !

"You are either with us or against us"

The Stasi are dead. Long live the Stasi.

God knows it did not cross our minds to attack the towers but after the situation became unbearable and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American-Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon, I thought about it. And the events that affected me directly were that of 1982 and the events that followed -- when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, helped by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me punish the unjust the same way (and) to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women.

Osama bin Laden

Admitting responsibility for attacks on US on September 11, 2001, on videotape shown on Al Jazeera, October 29, 2004

The problem is that 'observation without changing'-doctrin is false, so both in Star Trek as in journalism.

And even more so in the middle east.

In Pallywood they have learnt the power of the media, and how good sound and video-bites have on especially european states and their willingness to give money in aid, and perfected it as masters.

God knows it did not cross our minds to attack the towers but after the situation became unbearable and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American-Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon, I thought about it. And the events that affected me directly were that of 1982 and the events that followed -- when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, helped by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me punish the unjust the same way (and) to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women.

Osama bin Laden

Admitting responsibility for attacks on US on September 11, 2001, on videotape shown on Al Jazeera, October 29, 2004

Your action in promulgating the words of a known terrorist has been noted.

Your status has been upgraded to "against us".

If you were planning any trips , make them now , as your elevation to "no fly" status is imminent.

Ulysses G.>> Don't show that tape to Rudy Giuliani. He is still convinced any and all attacks are done out of hate of american 'lifestyle and liberty' and not any foreign policy angering anyone.

God knows it did not cross our minds to attack the towers but after the situation became unbearable and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American-Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon, I thought about it. And the events that affected me directly were that of 1982 and the events that followed -- when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, helped by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me punish the unjust the same way (and) to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women.

Osama bin Laden

Admitting responsibility for attacks on US on September 11, 2001, on videotape shown on Al Jazeera, October 29, 2004

Your action in promulgating the words of a known terrorist has been noted.

Your status has been upgraded to "against us".

If you were planning any trips , make them now , as your elevation to "no fly" status is imminent.

Sadly he's right.

Your Library privileges will also be removed come Monday.