Campaign to create UK's first memorial to journalists

Since 2000, 16 UK journalists have been killed in the course of their reporting

A campaign has been launched to establish the UK's first memorial dedicated to journalists who have died while reporting from conflict zones.

On the Record: The National Memorial to Journalists on the Frontline is an initiative led by Press Gazette, Andrew Baud, and a group of journalists across the sector.

It is hoped it will be sited at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Since 2000, 16 UK journalists have been killed in the course of their reporting, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

In 2023 alone, 128 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide.

The group behind it hope that a sculpture in future will be complemented by a digital database containing the stories of UK journalists who died in the line of duty.

Organisers say the project aims to honour bravery and sacrifice in pursuit of the truth by creating a permanent place of remembrance for journalists who have lost their lives.

'Personal mission'

Andrew Baud, who has worked closely with the National Memorial Arboretum for more than 16 years, said: "Some time ago I received a letter from a member of the public who asked why there wasn’t a memorial to war correspondents at the Arboretum.

"Having worked with journalists for my whole professional life and understanding the importance of remembering those who have sacrificed their lives for the greater good, the creation of a memorial to journalists reporting from the front line has become a personal mission for me."

Organisers are now seeking a wide range of partners to assist with the development of the project, helping with various tasks including fundraising, memorial design, database research, and curating the stories of individual journalists.

Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford said: "Journalists risk their lives every day to shine a light into some of the darkest corners of the world.

"This memorial should serve as a reminder of the importance of the work we all do in the news business."