Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, currently jailed in Iran, was highlighted in another resolution at TNG’s sector conference, “Condemning the Capture, Jailing and Killing of Journalists Around the World.” The text follows In the first week of January 2015, eight journalists were killed in the line of duty. Those eight, editors and cartoonists, were among the 12 people massacred in the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris,. Tragically, we know we will mourn other journalists this year. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports 61 “motive-confirmed” deaths of journalists in 2014. Motive-confirmed means that CPJ is “reasonably certain that a journalist was murdered in direct reprisal for his or her work; was killed in crossfire during combat situations; or was killed while carrying out a dangerous assignment such as coverage of a street protest.” Another 19 journalists may have been killed due to their work in 2014, but CPJ classifies those as “motive-unconfirmed.” The deaths in 2014 are slightly lower than the statistics for 2013 (70 motive-confirmed) and 2012 (74), but are up substantially from 2011 (47) and 2010 (44). Of course, even those numbers are far too high. Journalists in hot zones also face the grave threat of being captured and held hostage, or being imprisoned by the government. On Jan. 14, Iran announced it will try Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian. He has not been given access to a lawyer or even been told the charges he faces. The numbers of journalists abducted are not certain, but CPJ reported last august, after the barbaric beheading by ISIS of journalist James Foley, that more than 80 journalists had been abducted in Syria alone since the civil war there began in 2011. Meanwhile, governments jailed 220 journalists in 2014. Similar numbers reported for 2013 and 2012, with numbers for lower in previous years. Journalists willingly and courageously put themselves in situations of extreme danger around the world. But all members of the media, advocates for journalism and all people who understand that democracy is impossible without a free press and free speech, all of us must do everything in our power to protect those who take great risks. We must loudly condemn all acts of journalistic oppression, bringing pressure to bear on countries that jail journalists to punish and prevent reporting. Just as loudly, we must condemn and shame countries that are permitting terrorists to capture and kill journalists with impunity. As Guild leaders, we must work with our employers to ensure that every possible safety precaution is being taken with regard to journalists in danger zones globally, including those covering demonstrations and riots in the United States. We must bring these concerns to the bargaining table and seek contract language that ensures journalists have the proper gear, tools and training to protect themselves. We must strengthen our voice by joining with organizations such as CPJ and the International Federation of Journalist’s in letters, public statements and news conferences that put a spotlight on the dangers journalists face. Resolved, that TNG-CWA fervently condemns the ailing, kidnapping, torture and murder of journalists, who bravely put themselves in harm’s way to shed light on some of the world’s darkest places. We further condemn any and all governments that, through cowardice or acts of complicity, all most of these barbaric acts to go unpunished We call on TNG-CWA locals to make, or continue to make, issues of journalists’ safety a subject of bargaining. We also call on all employers of journalists, with or without Guild locals, to invest in the gear and training that is essential for journalists in danger zones.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 20:35:48 +0000
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