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Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation

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Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation
AbbreviationFJM Foundation
FormationJune 26, 2019 (5 years ago) (2019-06-26)
Founders
TypeNonprofit organization
501(c)(3)
PurposeEstablishment of a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to commemorate journalists
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., United States
MethodDonations
Key people
  • David Dreier
  • (Chairman)
  • Barbara Cochran
  • (President)
  • Vince Randazzo
  • (Project Director)
  • Julie Moos
  • (Special Adviser)
  • Molly Levinson
  • (Communications)
  • Paul Goldberger
  • (Architecture Advisor)
  • Ethan Reznik
  • (Coordinator)
Websitewww.fallenjournalists.org

The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation (FJM Foundation) exists to construct a permanent memorial on the National Mall 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 Tribune's Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.[4][5]

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.[6][2][3]

The only memorial commemorating journalists located in Washington, D.C., resided at the Newseum, which closed at the end of 2019.[7] Dreier has said that, in addition to the mass shooting at the Capital Gazette in 2018, the closing of the Newseum provided inspiration for the FJM project.[8]

The Annenberg Foundation and the Michael and Jackie Ferro Foundation have provided initial funds for the FJM Foundation.[9]

Legislation

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The enactment of federal legislation is required to authorize the establishment of a commemorative work in Washington, D.C.[10] The approval of the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission is required as well.[11]

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),[12] 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.[13] 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).[14]

In accordance with the Commemorative Works Act of 1986, the FJM project will be funded with private donations.[15]

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.

Progress

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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.[11][16] The Commission tentatively voted to support the effort.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]

On September 21, 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act, originally sponsored by Representatives Grace Napolitano (D-California) and Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma). On December 2, 2020, the Senate passed the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act, originally sponsored by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland).

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

The foundation has announced that it plans to seek a location for the memorial in Area I of National Park Service Map Number 869/86501, adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. In September 2022, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recommended that Congress allow the foundation to consider sites in Area I. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 approved a location for the memorial in Area I. The intended location is at 3rd Street and Independence Avenue SW between the Voice of America building and the National Museum of the American Indian.[20]

On March 13, 2024, the foundation announced that Chicago-based architect John Ronan will design the memorial, which will utilize "transparent materials to convey themes of clarity and light to reinforce the importance of the work of journalists," according to foundation chairman David Dreier.[21]

Board of Advisors

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References

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  1. ^ "Foundation sets plan for US memorial for fallen journalists". France 24. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  2. ^ a b Cook, Chase. "Lawmakers pledge support for fallen journalist memorial, a seven-year endeavor". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ "About". Fallen Journalists. Archived from the original on 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  7. ^ Stelter, Brian (2019-06-23). "Foundation seeks memorial for journalists who died doing their jobs". WISC. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  8. ^ News Conference: Fallen Journalists Memorial Act legislation introduced, retrieved 2019-12-14
  9. ^ "Memorial proposed for fallen journalists year after shooting". AP NEWS. 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  10. ^ "[USC02] 40 USC Ch. 89: NATIONAL CAPITAL MEMORIALS AND COMMEMORATIVE WORKS". uscode.house.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  11. ^ a b Staff (2019-09-24). "Statement: Alliance Encourages Memorial Advisory Commission to Recommend Establishment of Fallen Journalists Memorial". News Media Alliance. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  12. ^ "Lawmakers introduce legislation to create memorial for fallen journalists". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "National Mall Plan Maps". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  15. ^ Brian Stelter. "Foundation seeks to build memorial for journalists who died doing their jobs". CNN. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  16. ^ "Fallen journalists memorial gets support". News & Tech. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ Oliveira, Nelson. "House considers national memorial for fallen journalists". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  19. ^ "Fallen Journalists Memorial Act of 2019 (H.R. 3465)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  20. ^ "Capitol Hill spot proposed for DC's fallen journalists memorial". WTOP News. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  21. ^ "Chicago architect wins commission to build memorial to fallen journalists in Washington". Chicago Tribune. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
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