Journalists Memorial Rededication Ceremony
March 30, 2009
Photo Slideshow:
Watch Video:
- • Welcome - Kenneth A. Paulson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Newseum
- • Keynote Remarks - Alberto Ibargüen, Chairman, Newseum
- • Journalists Memorial Rededication - Chris Wells, Senior Vice President, Freedom Forum
- • Closing Remarks - Charles L. Overby, Chief Executive Officer, Newseum
- • Panel Discussion: Frank Smyth, Committee to Protect Journalists, on risks for journalists.
- • Panel Discussion: Gregorio A. Meraz, Televisa, on protecting journalists in Mexico.
- • Panel Discussion: Smyth talks about becoming a journalist in this age.
- • Panel Discussion: NPR's Scott Simon discusses war zone assignments.
- • Panel Discussion: Journalist Donatella Lorch and Smyth talk about mounting expectations for reporters.
Newseum Honors 62 Journalists
By Newseum staff
WASHINGTON — Family and friends of 62 journalists who died in 2008 reporting the news gathered at the Newseum March 30 for a somber rededication ceremony of the Journalists Memorial.
Newseum chairman Alberto Ibargüen delivered the keynote address. Chris Wells, a Freedom Forum senior vice president, read the names of 77 fallen journalists from 2008 and previous years. A panel discussion on the growing risks journalists face covering the news followed the ceremony.
The two-story Journalists Memorial honors the men and women who were killed covering wars, disasters or violent crimes or who were silenced for doing their work.
With the 2008 additions, plus the names of 15 journalists killed in past years, the memorial now lists 1,913 journalists, going back to 1837.
In 2008, as it has been for the past five years, Iraq was the deadliest country for journalists. Thirteen journalists were killed during the year. A total of 151 journalists have died in Iraq since the war there began in 2003.
Online Freedom Forum Journalists Memorial:
Browse the names of journalists who have lost their lives on the job.