And welcome to this edition of reliable sources. I'm Brian Stelter here on Sunday, May 30th this memorial day weekend in the United States on this showcast edition of reliable

This is our podcast version of the Sunday television program. You are going to hear from a top editor at the AP discussing the recent firing of Emily Wilder and the firestorm that erupted inside the AP as a result. Plus,

David Lee and heart of the New York Times is here talking about evolving coverage of COVID-19 and whether there's an information lag within the public and the press.

We are also going to speak with the author of how democracies die and checking with one of CNN's correspondence on the ground covering that bogus Arizona audit.

But we need to begin with a story that's happening both in Myanmar and in Michigan.

This case personifies the threat to journalists and a free media in the southeast Asian country of Myanmar.

Danny Fenster is a 37 year old American journalist who worked hard to tell the stories of Myanmar citizens both before and after the military coup in February.

He is the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, a magazine and website based in Yangon.

He was trying to fly home a week ago, planning to surprise his family back in Detroit when he was detained at Yangon International Airport.

He hasn't been heard from since and he's believed to have been imprisoned.

The U.S. State Department has spoken out saying it is deeply concerned about Fenster's detention, quote,

that he had pressed the military regime to release him immediately and will continue to do so until he is allowed to return home safely to his family.

This is a reminder of the dangerous journalists face around the world.

I know you've heard recently, free was talking about this last hour, about this Belarusian opposition journalist who was detained in mid-flight.

So that's an example in Belarus. This is an example in Myanmar and there are many other examples in Myanmar as well of local journalists who have been caught in the midst of this conflict

who have been taken into prison who have been shut down by the military coup.

This case with Fenster brings it all home because an American family is now hoping safely for his return.

Let me bring them in and introduce you to them now.

Danny Fenster's parents are Rose and Buddy. They live in Danny's hometown of Detroit and they are here with me.

Rose, I know it's been a week since you last heard from Danny. How are you holding up?

I'm trying to be strong and positive and it's minute by minute running on fumes and just keeping my mind on the positive and not letting my mind go to where it could go.

Yeah. Danny, was there covering the stories that are so important to this instance in Myanmar?

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