In the wake of a number of tragic journalist deaths—Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed Libya last month, while the deaths of South African journalist Anton Hammerl, also in Libya, and Wilfred Iván Ojeda Peralta in his native Venezuela were both confirmed this week—YouTube is joining forces with the Newseum to launch a channel to “remember the journalists who have died in the last year while reporting news around the world,” according to an announcement on Google’s blog.
“The risks and sacrifices that many have made in order to provide us with accurate information is remarkable,” the post says. “On the Journalists Memorial channel you can watch a collection of videos representing these journalists’ lives and their work.” The channel will become a digital version of the Newseum’s Journalists Memorial, which is re-dedicated annually to honor those who have died in the preceding year, going back to 1837. At this year’s rededication ceremony, which takes place today, the founder and head of Google News, Krishna Bharat, will deliver the keynote.
Google is also encouraging people to submit their own videos of journalists who have risked or lost their lives in the past year and are deserving of recognition.
