NEWS AND OPINION:
The death of Brent Renaud has not been forgotten. The journalist, award-winning filmmaker and former New York Times contributor — was …
NEWS AND OPINION: The death of Brent Renaud has not been forgotten. The journalist, award-winning filmmaker and former New York Times contributor — was killed Sunday while working in Ukraine outside Kyiv. “We mourn the news of the death of journalist Brent Renaud. His fatal shooting near Irpin, reportedly by Russian forces while trying to cross a checkpoint to cover fleeing Ukrainian civilians, is a tragic reminder of the costs and stakes for journalists covering war and attacks on civilians,” said Jen Judson, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute. “That so many journalists — local and foreign, freelancer and staffer are putting their health, lives and livelihoods on the line in order to cover the human costs of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder to the world of why a free and independent press is so important and worthy of protection and support. Under international humanitarian law, journalists are noncombatants. We call for an investigation into the killing of Brent Renaud as a possible war crime,” the two said in a joint statement. Time magazine added in a statement of its own that “it is essential that journalists are able to safely cover this ongoing invasion and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.” Four journalists have been injured by gunfire since Feb.24, according to Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based nonprofit group promoting freedom of information. In the meantime, tributes and accolades for Mr. Renaud from multiple news organizations have appeared in the last 72 hours from major news organizations, including The Associated Press and The New York Times, which called him an “acclaimed filmmaker” and a “crusading filmmaker,” respectively. BIDEN NOT ON THE GUEST LIST Republican observers have noted that Beto O’Rourke — now a Democratic hopeful in the Texas governor’s race — has been “pleading” with President Biden to stay clear of the Lone Star State.
