"Journalists like Austin from all over the world risk their lives every day to cover the news,” Anders Gyllenhaal, McClatchy vice president for news, said in a statement. “Austin’s reporting on the events in Syria has been particularly powerful and revealing – and a reminder of why this work is so vital,”

Gyllenhaal added that the company was “deeply concerned about Austin’s safety” and was working with other news organizations and the State Department to find him. Anyone with information on Tice, he said, should contact Mark Seibel, the McClatchy Washington Bureau’s chief of correspondents, at mseibel@mcclatchydc.com.

Washington Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli said in a statement that the paper was “focused intensively” on bringing about Tice’s safe return.

“Austin is a talented and courageous journalist whose work has helped to shape the world’s understanding of this humanitarian and political crisis,” Brauchli said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists’ executive director, Joel Simon, said in a statement that the group is troubled by the lack of information about Tice’s whereabouts.

"His work is protected by international law, which guarantees the right to seek and receive information," the statement said. "As a journalist, he is a civilian and must be protected from harm."

The State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement that the United States was working through the Czech Embassy in Damascus to learn more of Tice’s “welfare and whereabouts.”

“We strongly urge all sides to ensure the safety of journalists in Syria,” she said.

Tice was well aware of the dangers of reporting in Syria and even took to his Facebook page to beseech his friends and relatives to “please quit telling me to be safe.” He then launched into an impassioned defense of his presence in Syria, which he acknowledged was “in the middle of a brutal and still uncertain civil war.” However, he continued, he found inspiration from the Syrians he encountered.

“I’m living, in a place, at a time and with a people where life means more than anywhere I’ve ever been – because every single day people here lay down their own (lives) for the sake of others,” Tice wrote. “Coming here to Syria is the greatest thing I’ve ever done, and it’s the greatest feeling of my life.”

STATEMENTS FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

From Bill Treanor, Law Dean ...

Dear Law Center Community,

As you may have heard from news reports, our student Austin Tice, who has been working as a journalist in Syria this summer, has not been heard from for more than a week.

Of course, we are very distressed by this news and are concerned for his welfare. We and our University colleagues are fully supporting the efforts of the State Department and news agencies who are working to ascertain his whereabouts.

We have reached out to Austin’s family to offer the full support of the Law Center and the University Community.

I know you will join me in sending thoughts and prayers for Austin's safe return.

From the university ...

We are deeply concerned by the news that Austin's family and colleagues have not heard from him for a number of days. The thoughts and prayers of our entire Georgetown community are with Austin, his family and his friends during this difficult time.