A new memorial at the National Mall will pay tribute to fallen journalists: 'A beacon of the press's freedom'
Plans for honoring slain journalists unveiled
A plan for the next monument in the area, located just off the main stretch of the National Mall and in the shadow of the Capitol, is being developed.
President Barbara Cochran of the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation stated, "Our hope is that even if they didn't plan to visit the memorial, as they stroll down Independence Avenue towards the Air and Space Museum, they'll be intrigued by the sight and cross the street to learn more about the significance of journalism and the free press for all of us."
Each year, over 25 million individuals visit the National Mall, making it the most popular park in the United States.
Cochran stated that one of their hopes is for this to become a symbol of the free press for international visitors, as well as those from various regions within the country.
The monument, which will be constructed on a limestone base, will have a glass main structure, and John Ronan Architects is in charge of its design.
Cochran stated that the objective is to convey the characteristics of journalism through materials that suggest transparency, clarity, and lightness.
The pathway around the monument will be designed as a journalist's trail to uncover a story. It will lead to the Remembrance Hall, where the First Amendment's text will be etched in steel and protected by glass.
"Telling the story of journalists who have lost their lives is challenging because it is an unfinished tale, as we know," Cochran stated. "There will be no names on the memorial walls, but we hope that through using quotes, symbols, and other means available in this modern digital age, we can bring to life examples of the kinds of journalists who have perished."
David Dreier, a former Republican Congressman from California and the Chairman of Tribune Publishing Company, came up with the idea to construct a memorial. The foundation was established on June 28th, 2019, precisely one year after one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in the US occurred, when a gunman targeted the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.
"A man, unhappy with a truthful story about him and a court case involving him, entered the newsroom with a gun and killed five people."
The Fallen Journalists Foundation plans to unveil a memorial in June 2028 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the shooting that killed five Capital Gazette staff members, including Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.
In December 2020, a law was passed by Congress that allowed the foundation to construct the memorial.
"Cochran stated that no monument has ever existed to the concept of a free press. This monument, however, honors the idea and those who gave their lives to uphold it."
In 2018, tragedy struck Planet Chronicle in Ukraine when veteran cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova were killed while reporting on Russia's invasion. Planet Chronicle correspondent Benjamin Hall was also severely injured in the attack.
"Cochran stated, "They were there to serve your audience and convey the American public. That requires immense bravery. And that's the kind of bravery we want to commemorate with this memorial.""
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