James Foley Foundation, NY Times, VOA to announce Journalist Safety Task Force, Monday

Diane Foley, founder and president of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation dedicated to press freedom, New York Times and Voice of America officials and journalism educators from Marquette and Northwestern will launch a new Journalist Safety Task Force at a National Press Club Newsmaker at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in the Zenger Room.

As war rages in the Gaza region and correspondents cover battles around the world, this timely panel on reporting in conflict zones will address journalist safety training. 

Club President Eileen O’Reilly will make opening remarks and introduce the panelists. Registration is free for members of the Club and credentialed media. Register online.

Speakers:

Ellen Shearer, board chair of the Foley Foundation and emerita professor, Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern

Eric Phillips, program manager, Office of Language Programming, Voice of America

Jason Reich, vice president of safety and security, The New York Times

Tom Durkin, director of Journalist Education and Safety Training, Foley Foundation and Marquette Center for Peacemaking

Diane Foley, founder & president, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Moderating and leading the panel will be academics associated with Marquette University and Northwestern University, where Jim Foley studied journalism. Foley was brutally murdered by ISIS on August 19, 2014, after 21 months in captivity.

Foley had been covering the Syrian civil war for Global Post and Agence France Presse at the time of his capture. The Foley Foundation advocates for the safe return of all Americans held hostage and provides journalist safety education.