Ingwerson found himself grateful for outside advice, be it from government agencies or other news organizations. The managing editor of the Guardian , for example, called Ingwerson on Saturday to describe his newspaper’s experience with the kidnapping and eventual release of one of its Iraqi correspondents. The UK newspaper had assembled a team of staff members to handle it. He suggested that Ingwerson, too, assemble a team—and be sure to include the publisher. “He said, ‘You need somebody, who could, if it comes to that, who could write a check or authorize whatever they [the staff] happen to need,’” recalls Ingwerson. In addition, the Guardian had designated one staff member as the primary contact for the reporter’s family. The editor suggested the Monitor do likewise.

Ingwerson thought his colleague’s advice wise. Before noon, he drew up a list of reporters and editors whose skills and responsibilities at the paper would make them logical members of a group to help the Monitor deal with the kidnapping. To a person, they agreed to join what became known as “Team Jill.” Each had an assigned task:

• Managing Editor Ingwerson. Consult with other news organizations regarding behind-the-scenes matters; direct efforts with the Arab-based media.
• Foreign Editor Scott. Oversee the Middle East correspondents, Peterson and Murphy, as they worked with their sources in Iraq and tracked leads; facilitate the flow of information between different parties.
• Deputy Foreign Editor Amelia Newcomb. Communicate daily with Carroll’s immediate family.
• Editor Bergenheim. Serve as main contact with government agencies; lead Team Jill.
• Washington Bureau Chief David Cook . Serve as Monitor spokesperson; coordinate TV appearances of Carroll family and assist them with media matters.
• Faye Bowers , recently retired Washington correspondent instrumental in negotiating Rohde’s release. Call upon her numerous contacts within the intelligence community.

On Saturday morning, they met as soon as all were in the Boston office or could be brought in by conference call. They agreed to reconvene as often as every hour for the time being to trade notes and decide the next steps to take.

Watch Team Jill talk about their roles