Press club renews call for reporter's release
YOUNGSTOWN - The Youngstown Press Club is renewing its call for the release of a reporter from a Russian prison as the first anniversary of his arrest approaches.
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested on an espionage charge on March 29, 2023, and still awaits trial.
Gershkovich, the WSJ and the U.S. government vehemently deny that charge.
"We continue to stand with Evan on the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment," said Lori A. Factor, Youngstown Press Club president.
"A free press is the hallmark of a civilized society. Journalism is not a crime, and journalists should never feel as though danger dictates their reporting in any country," she added.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has declared Gershkovich wrongly detained; and President Biden has promised to bring him home.
Last month, the press club sponsored an "I Stand with Evan" event in Youngstown, which featured Paul Beckett, the Wall Street Journal's assistant editor, who is working full-time to secure Gershkovich's release.
Gershkovich, 32, is the American-born son of Soviet-era emigres to the United States. He learned Russian from his parents and built a career as a journalist focused on Russia.
He joined The Wall Street Journal in January 2022 after having reported from Moscow for AgenceFrance Press and The Moscow Times.
Since his arrest, he has been held in the Stalin-era Lefortovo Prison, largely cut off from the world and spending 90 percent of his time in a small cell.
Gershkovich is the first American journalist charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War.
He has profiled Russian dissidents, written extensively about the Kremlin's war effortsand reported from Russian border towns on the war's toll since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Youngstown Press Club was re-established in 2018 to promote journalism and related professions in the Mahoning Valley.
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested on an espionage charge on March 29, 2023, and still awaits trial.
Gershkovich, the WSJ and the U.S. government vehemently deny that charge.
"We continue to stand with Evan on the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment," said Lori A. Factor, Youngstown Press Club president.
"A free press is the hallmark of a civilized society. Journalism is not a crime, and journalists should never feel as though danger dictates their reporting in any country," she added.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has declared Gershkovich wrongly detained; and President Biden has promised to bring him home.
Last month, the press club sponsored an "I Stand with Evan" event in Youngstown, which featured Paul Beckett, the Wall Street Journal's assistant editor, who is working full-time to secure Gershkovich's release.
Gershkovich, 32, is the American-born son of Soviet-era emigres to the United States. He learned Russian from his parents and built a career as a journalist focused on Russia.
He joined The Wall Street Journal in January 2022 after having reported from Moscow for AgenceFrance Press and The Moscow Times.
Since his arrest, he has been held in the Stalin-era Lefortovo Prison, largely cut off from the world and spending 90 percent of his time in a small cell.
Gershkovich is the first American journalist charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War.
He has profiled Russian dissidents, written extensively about the Kremlin's war effortsand reported from Russian border towns on the war's toll since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Youngstown Press Club was re-established in 2018 to promote journalism and related professions in the Mahoning Valley.
Our support for freedom of the press
The Youngstown Press Club supports journalists and press freedom worldwide. For four years Youngstown Press Club members have honored slain journalists on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, with a Reading of the Names ceremony.
Last year the club made a financial contribution to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, an organization that provides free legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the news-gathering rights of journalists.
We support the #IStandWithEvan movement and brought The Wall Street Journal's Paul Beckett to Youngstown to speak about Evan Gershkovich's wrongful imprisonment in February 2024.
We support the rights of student journalists and sponsored a Student Press Freedom Day celebration at Youngstown State University in February 2024.
In October 2024 we will bring in Gunita Singh, an attorney with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, to talk about the organization's work to help journalists fight legal challenges to their rights.
Last year the club made a financial contribution to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, an organization that provides free legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the news-gathering rights of journalists.
We support the #IStandWithEvan movement and brought The Wall Street Journal's Paul Beckett to Youngstown to speak about Evan Gershkovich's wrongful imprisonment in February 2024.
We support the rights of student journalists and sponsored a Student Press Freedom Day celebration at Youngstown State University in February 2024.
In October 2024 we will bring in Gunita Singh, an attorney with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, to talk about the organization's work to help journalists fight legal challenges to their rights.
Last year's World Press Freedom Day
The year 2022 marked a devastating decline in journalists' safety worldwide. The Committee to Protect Journalists counted 67 journalists and media workers killed in connection with their profession. This number represents a sharp increase from the total of 45 journalists killed in 2021.
The Youngstown Press Club participated in a worldwide recognition and honoring of these fallen journalists at its annual World Press Freedom Day event on May 3, 2023,, a Reading of the Names of all those who were killed in pursuit of a story in the previous year.
The event was at the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Youngstown. Readers were press club members Brenda Linert, George Nelson, Chelsea Simeon, Adam Earnheardt, Chris Travers, India Gatts, Lori Factor, George Denney, Ralph Zerbonia, Ernie Brown and JoAnn Kolarik.
The Youngstown Press Club participated in a worldwide recognition and honoring of these fallen journalists at its annual World Press Freedom Day event on May 3, 2023,, a Reading of the Names of all those who were killed in pursuit of a story in the previous year.
The event was at the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Youngstown. Readers were press club members Brenda Linert, George Nelson, Chelsea Simeon, Adam Earnheardt, Chris Travers, India Gatts, Lori Factor, George Denney, Ralph Zerbonia, Ernie Brown and JoAnn Kolarik.
World Press Freedom Day this year
On Friday, May 3, 2024, the Youngstown Press Club will once again honor fallen journalists in a World Press Freedom Day commemoration, including a Reading of the Names. The event will be in the Mahoning County Courthouse Rotunda, 120 Market St., Youngstown, Ohio.
This event is open to the public. For more information, click here.
On Friday, May 3, 2024, the Youngstown Press Club will once again honor fallen journalists in a World Press Freedom Day commemoration, including a Reading of the Names. The event will be in the Mahoning County Courthouse Rotunda, 120 Market St., Youngstown, Ohio.
This event is open to the public. For more information, click here.
Organizations that support and protect press freedom
Committee to Protect Journalists
Sixty-seven members of the press were killed in 2022, the highest number since 2018, according to the annual report from the Committee to Protect Journalists. At least 41 journalists, or more than 60%, were killed in retaliation for their work. A motive for the other 26 are being investigated by the CPJ.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders maintains a Press Freedom Index, checks abuses worldwide in real time, and assists journalists in danger. "To make a lasting change, we carry out in-depth work with governments and institutions. We offer concrete solutions and launch international initiatives. We are on the ground to assist journalists in danger. Anywhere and anytime."
The International Press Institute
The International Press Institute keeps a database of killed journalists. It has been monitoring the killing of journalists since 1997.
The New Humanitarian
A collection of articles from The New Humanitarian showcasing the work of journalists who face reporting restrictions and dangers around the globe.
Freedom of the Press Foundation
The Freedom of the Press Foundation protects, defends, and empowers public-interest journalism in the 21st century.
CNN
CNN's Media Martyrs is a compilation of those who have died while working as journalists in the past 15 years.
Sixty-seven members of the press were killed in 2022, the highest number since 2018, according to the annual report from the Committee to Protect Journalists. At least 41 journalists, or more than 60%, were killed in retaliation for their work. A motive for the other 26 are being investigated by the CPJ.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders maintains a Press Freedom Index, checks abuses worldwide in real time, and assists journalists in danger. "To make a lasting change, we carry out in-depth work with governments and institutions. We offer concrete solutions and launch international initiatives. We are on the ground to assist journalists in danger. Anywhere and anytime."
The International Press Institute
The International Press Institute keeps a database of killed journalists. It has been monitoring the killing of journalists since 1997.
The New Humanitarian
A collection of articles from The New Humanitarian showcasing the work of journalists who face reporting restrictions and dangers around the globe.
Freedom of the Press Foundation
The Freedom of the Press Foundation protects, defends, and empowers public-interest journalism in the 21st century.
CNN
CNN's Media Martyrs is a compilation of those who have died while working as journalists in the past 15 years.