Journalist Matthew VanDyke ’02, Political Science, Missing in Libya

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that it “is concerned about the fate of American freelance journalist Matthew VanDyke,” who is among 15 reporters currently missing or in government custody in Libya. VanDyke, an alumnus of UMBC and Georgetown and a well-traveled correspondent, arrived in Libya on March 6, and remained in daily contact with his family through March 12. The CPJ writes: “on April 4, Nouri Fonas, a Libyan friend of VanDyke’s contacted his mother and informed her that her son was believed to have been captured along with three Libyan friends on March 13 or 14 near Brega by forces loyal to leader Muammar Qaddafi” and “they were later transported, along with more than 1,000 Libyan civilians to Surt, a Qaddafi stronghold.” VanDyke’s story was posted today on Patch.com’s Arbutus, Catonsville, Owings Mills and Reisterstown sites, and his mother, Sharon VanDyke, spoke about him on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks yesterday. Articles about VanDyke have also appeared in the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, local papers and news websites, and on TV news across the U.S.