What to Know
- The Newseum re-dedicated its Journalist Memorial, adding the names of 20 journalists to represent those who died covering news in 2015.
- Among the 20 names added were cartoonists from Charlie Hebdo, and reporter Allison Parker and videographer Adam Ward, who were killed on TV.
- The re-dedication ceremony came just a day after NPR reporter David Gilkey and interpreter Zabihullah Tamanna were killed in Afghanistan.
The Newseum rededicated its Journalist Memorial Monday, adding the names of 20 journalists who died covering news in 2015.
Among the 20 names added to the memorial were broadcast reporter Alison Parker and videographer Adam Ward, who were shot and killed on live television in Roanoke, Virginia, in August. Parker’s father spoke at the ceremony and advocated for gun reform.
French Ambassador Gerard Araud, the keynote speaker, honored cartoonists from the French magazine "Charlie Hebdo" in his speech.
Along with the ceremony, the Newseum blacked out the “Today’s Front Pages” exhibit as part of the #WithoutNews campaign, showing a world without news.
The rededication ceremony came just a day after NPR reporter David Gilkey and interpreter Zabihullah Tamanna were killed in Afghanistan after their Humvee was hit by grenades.
Scott Williams, the Newseum’s chief operating officer, said Gilkey and Tamanna’s deaths were “daily reminders of the dangers that journalists face worldwide in gathering and reporting news.”
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The Journalist Memorial includes 2,291 journalists who have been killed dating back to 1837. The Newseum’s goal is to raise awareness about the threats to journalists and the First Amendment.