ROCHESTER - The parents of a freelance war correspondent from New Hampshire hope to reach the captors of their son, who was kidnapped Thanksgiving Day while working in Syria.

John and Diane Foley made a public request for compassion outside their home on Victoria Circle Thursday to hear word of their son, James Foley, 39, a videographer working for Agence France-Presse, who was last seen Nov. 22 near the city of Idlib.

"We'd like to hear from them," John Foley said Thursday, hoping their message could reach those who are holding his son.

"Jim will know how to get in contact with us," John Foley said, adding his son is a "compassionate journalist" who has been trying to tell the story of the Syrian people in the midst of a civil war that has left more than 60,000 people dead during the past year.

James Foley, who has also worked for Global Post, was taken from his vehicle by two armed men while traveling toward the Turkish border.

While his driver and translator were released, there has been no word about the fate of Foley and another unnamed fellow journalist, according to reports by www.cpj.org.

The Foleys would not say what they've heard from the U.S. State Department or comment on what other measures were being taken to help gain their son's release.

"We don't want to negatively impact the search for Jim," John Foley said.

In 2011, James Foley was held for more than 40 days in Libya by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

The Foleys, who have remained silent about their son's disappearance for close to six weeks, announced Wednesday that he was missing. Additionally, the Foley family launched a Facebook page, FreeJamesFoley, and a website, www.freejamesfoley.org, to raise awareness and support.

James Foley, who is the oldest of five children, has been working as a freelance journalist in the Middle East - including in Afghanistan - for the past five years, according to the website.

"He's in our thoughts and prayers every day," John Foley said

The Committee to Protect Journalists considers Syria the most dangerous place for reporters. Twenty-eight journalists were killed there in 2012.

Additionally, there have been reports of at least 16 other journalists who have been abducted in Syria, including NBC foreign correspondent Richard Engel, who escaped unharmed at a rebel checkpoint in December.

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John Quinn may be reached at jquinn@newstote.com.