Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation

The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation (FJM Foundation) exists to construct a permanent memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor fallen journalists.[1] The effort was launched as an initiative of the Tribune Publishing Company by its chairman, David Dreier, at the National Press Club Journalism Institute in June 2019. That marked the first anniversary of the deadliest assault against journalists in United States history.[2][3] On June 28, 2018, a gunman killed five employees in the newsroom of The Capital in Annapolis, Maryland.[4][5] Tribune Publishing is the parent company of The Capital.[6]

Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation
AbbreviationFJM Foundation
FormationJune 26, 2019 (2019-06-26)
Founders
TypeNonprofit organization
501(c)(3)
PurposeEstablishment of a memorial in Washington, D.C. to commemorate journalists
HeadquartersNational Press Club Journalism Institute, Washington, D.C., United States
MethodDonations
Key people
  • David Dreier
  • (Chairman)
  • Barbara Cochran
  • (President)
  • Julie Moos
  • (Executive Director)
  • Jo Maney
  • (Executive Staff)
  • Vince Randazzo
  • (Executive Staff)
  • Ethan Reznik
  • (Coordinator)
AffiliationsNational Press Club Journalism Institute
Websitewww.fallenjournalists.org

The FJM Foundation is housed at the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the club's non-profit educational affiliate, with Barbara Cochran serving as president of the foundation.[7]

Dreier, who is a former senior member of the United States House of Representatives (1981-2013) and a longtime champion of press freedoms, has said that he looks forward to leading this multi-year effort to its completion.[8][2][3]

The only memorial commemorating journalists located in Washington, D.C. resided at the Newseum, which closed at the end of 2019.[9] Dreier has said that, in addition to the mass shooting at The Capital in 2018, the closing of the Newseum provided inspiration for the FJM project.[10]

The Annenberg Foundation and the Michael and Jackie Ferro Foundation have provided initial funds for the FJM Foundation.[11]

Legislation

The enactment of federal legislation is required to authorize the establishment of a commemorative work in Washington, D.C.[12] The approval of the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission is required as well.[13]

On June 25, 2019, a bipartisan and bicameral group of members of the United States Congress introduced the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act (H.R. 3465 and S. 1969),[14] which would permit the construction of a Fallen Journalists Memorial in Area I (not including the "Reserve") or Area II of Washington, D.C., as depicted by U.S. National Park Service map number 869/86501 B dated June 24, 2003.[15] This permissible area includes all of Washington, D.C. except the "Reserve" (shaded red on the map), which stretches from Lafayette Park neighboring the White House (north) to the Jefferson Memorial (south), and from the Capitol (east) to the Lincoln Memorial (west).[16]

In accordance with the Commemorative Works Act of 1986, the FJM project will be funded with private donations.[17]

Map Number 869/86501 of Washington, D.C., and its environs produced by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. This map shows the three areas used by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, U.S. National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, U.S. National Capital Planning Commission, and U.S. National Park Service to site commemorative works in the D.C. metropolitan area. This map is cited in the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act designating acceptable locations for the Fallen Journalists Memorial.

In the House of Representatives, Grace Napolitano (D-California) and Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) sponsored H.R. 3465, which has been referred to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.[6] In the Senate, Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) sponsored S. 1969, which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.[6] As of October 2020, 49 representatives and 13 senators have cosponsored the legislation in the 116th Congress.[18][19]

Progress

On September 24, 2019, representatives from the FJM Foundation, including President Barbara Cochran, testified before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission in support of a permanent memorial to fallen journalists.[13][20] The Commission tentatively voted to support the effort.[21] On December 4, 2019, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands heard testimony on the memorial from Cochran and Representative Napolitano.[22] On January 15, 2020, the House Committee on Natural Resources voted to advance the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act so that the legislation will be considered by the full House of Representatives.[23]

On September 21, 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act. On December 2, 2020, the Senate passed the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act.

On December 23, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act into law.

Board of Advisors

References
  1. "Foundation sets plan for US memorial for fallen journalists". France 24. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  2. Cook, Chase. "Lawmakers pledge support for fallen journalist memorial, a seven-year endeavor". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  3. "NewsConference: Fallen Journalist Memorial in the Works". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  4. Williams, Timothy (2019-10-28). "Suspect in Capital Gazette Shooting Pleads Guilty". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  5. Felice, Selene San. "One year after June 28: Capital Gazette says goodbye to Maryland Avenue". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  6. Cook, Chase. "Bipartisan group of lawmakers pledge support for slain journalist memorial in D.C.: 'Freedom of the press is the bedrock of our country'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  7. Klar, Rebecca (2019-06-24). "Foundation to raise support, funds for fallen journalists memorial in DC". TheHill. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  8. "About". Fallen Journalists. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  9. Business, Brian Stelter, CNN (2019-06-23). "Foundation seeks memorial for journalists who died doing their jobs". WISC. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  10. News Conference: Fallen Journalists Memorial Act legislation introduced, retrieved 2019-12-14
  11. "Memorial proposed for fallen journalists year after shooting". AP NEWS. 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  12. "[USC02] 40 USC Ch. 89: NATIONAL CAPITAL MEMORIALS AND COMMEMORATIVE WORKS". uscode.house.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  13. Staff (2019-09-24). "Statement: Alliance Encourages Memorial Advisory Commission to Recommend Establishment of Fallen Journalists Memorial". News Media Alliance. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  14. "Lawmakers introduce legislation to create memorial for fallen journalists". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  15. Napolitano, Grace F. (2019-12-04). "Text - H.R.3465 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fallen Journalists Memorial Act of 2019". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  16. "National Mall Plan Maps". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  17. Business, Brian Stelter, CNN. "Foundation seeks to build memorial for journalists who died doing their jobs". CNN. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  18. Napolitano, Grace F. (2019-12-04). "Cosponsors - H.R.3465 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fallen Journalists Memorial Act of 2019". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  19. Cardin, Benjamin L. (2019-06-25). "Cosponsors - S.1969 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fallen Journalists Memorial Act of 2019". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  20. "Fallen journalists memorial gets support". News & Tech. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  21. "FJM Foundation Testifies Before National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission on Need for Permanent Memorial to Fallen Journalists". Fallen Journalists. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  22. Oliveira, Nelson. "House considers national memorial for fallen journalists". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  23. "Fallen Journalists Memorial Act of 2019 (H.R. 3465)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
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