KUALA LUMPUR: Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, the Bernama TV cameraman killed while on assignment in Somalia last year, has become the first Malaysian journalist to be accorded honours at the Newseum Journalists Memorial in the United States dedicated to journalists killed on the job.
Noramfaizul's name was etched on the glass panels of the memorial, along with those of 69 other journalists, at the rededication of the memorial to add the names of journalists killed on the job in 2011.
An inscription of his name can be viewed at the website of the newseum located near the US Congress at Capital Hill in Washington DC.
Noramfaizul, 39, was killed by a stray bullet on Sept 2 last year when covering the Putra 1Malaysia Club's humanitarian mission with a group of journalists in Mogadishu.
Bernama editor-in-chief Datuk Yong Soo Heong said: "We are touched by the dedication of Noramfaizul at The Journalists Memorial in the Newseum. His passing was something unpleasant that happened in the line of duty.
"But we are proud that his efforts to record ongoing events in Somalia had not been in vain as it showed that peace is still fragile there."
He said journalists would try their best to be recorders of history and their journey sometimes may be fraught with danger or risks.
"We are pleased that the Journalists Memorial has seen it fit to honour Noramfaizul's brave efforts and I am grateful to the people involved for their acknowledgement," he said.
Each year, the Journalists Memorial honours media personnel such as reporters, photographers, television cameraman, editors, radio and television news presenters all over the world who were killed when carrying out their professional duties in the preceding year.
Since it was set up in 1837, a total of 2,084 names of journalists, photographers, broadcasters and senior newsmen killed had been recorded at the memorial.
"The brave men and women whose names are etched on the Journalists Memorial remind us that little about a free press is actually free," said James C. Duff, chief executive officer of Newseum.
"Every day, journalists around the world scramble to bear witness, sometimes at great personal risk, to record the first draft of history.
“Newseum is proud to honour these journalists who paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of the truth," said Duff.
The list of media personnel who die each year is compiled by Newseum from various sources such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, International Press Institute, Reporters Sans Frontieres, the International Federation of Journalists, news reports and other sources. - Bernama
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