Three days after her kidnappers’ stated deadline for her execution passed, all is quiet on the Jill Carroll front.

While her father pleads for her life to be spared, the Associated Press reports that U.S. and Iraqi authorities continue to conduct “joint operations in an intensive effort” to free Carroll, who has not been heard from since her captors released a videotape which first aired last Tuesday.

But while their reaction is muted at the moment, somber bloggers — like concerned journalists the world over — are still holding out hope for the release of Carroll, the 28-year-old freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor abducted Jan. 7 in Baghdad.

“The group of insurgents that captured her are asking for the release of all Iraqi women prisoners,” posted Wil’s Stuff v2.0 late last night. “Currently I have been unable to find any updates as to whether or not she was released. I am hoping that tomorrow morning I will awaken to the headline ‘American Journalist, Jill Carroll Released!’ I shall remain hopeful and pray for her safety. If anyone happens to find out anything, please, let me know.”

“Like many of you, I’m waiting for some good news about Jill Carroll, the kidnapped journalist on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor,” added Editor Cheri Matthews, pointing readers toward a “Jill Carroll update” page the Monitor has posted on its Web site. Farris 411, who thinks “that many writers and editors [are doing] an excellent job covering the facts of the story without getting too caught up in relating to the story,” found herself particularly affected yesterday after reading one article on the Monitor’s site in which Carroll’s father James pleaded, “Do not sacrifice an innocent soul. Instead,...

Complete access to this article will soon be available for purchase. Subscribers will be able to access this article, and the rest of CJR’s magazine archive, for free. Select articles from the last 6 months will remain free for all visitors to CJR.org.