In China, citizen journalists have been some of the most reliable real time sources of information about the outbreak and the efforts to contain it.
Chen Quishi, a 34-year-old former lawyer, caught the last train into Wuhan before the city locked down in February. He gained remarkable access to overrun hospitals, funeral homes, and the deserted market where the virus may have infected the first human. His video diaries showcase problems facing health workers such as inadequate testing and a lack of protective equipment.
He did all this at great personal cost. Chen, now in custody of Chinese authorities, hasn’t been seen or heard from since Feb. 6.
“I am asking everyone, especially if you are in Wuhan, to help me look for Quishi,” his mother pleaded in a video.
Chinese authorities claimed Chen was under control and in quarantine. It’s not unusual for journalists who speak out against the government to disappear. Speaking from his bare hotel room weeks after he first arrived, Chen told his camera, “I am scared. I have the virus in front of me. Behind me is China’s law enforcement. But I will perk up. If I am still alive in this city, I will continue my report.”