The International Press Institute (IPI) today expressed outrage at the beheading of freelance American journalist Steven Sotloff by a militant affiliated with the Islamic State.
“There are no words to truly express the shock, sadness and outrage we feel over the reports of the brutal murder of Mr. Sotloff,” IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said. “Our prayers go out to his family.
“IPI will continue to fight for and promote the safety of journalists as they strive to cover sensitive and often dangerous stories. We hope that the tragic fate of Mr. Sotloff and that of his colleague, American photojournalist James Foley, will spur others around the world to do so as well.”
Reuters reported that Sotloff’s death was captured in a video posted online yesterday. The video, similar to one posted two weeks ago showing Foley’s death, drew cries of horror and outrage from around the world, as well as comments honouring Sotloff’s sacrifice.
“All journalists mourn the death of Steven Sotloff, who exemplifies the dedication and bravery of all journalists who put themselves in harm’s way to bring truth to [the] world,” IPI Executive Board Member Marty Steffens, a Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) endowed chair at the University of Missouri, said.
Her colleague, IPI Executive Board Vice Chair John Yearwood, who heads IPI’s North American Committee and serves as the Miami Herald’s world editor, added: “The murder of Steven Sotloff is deeply distressing. We extend condolences to Steven’s family and friends. His ultimate sacrifice, and that of James Foley, will not be forgotten. We call on [the Islamic State] to obey international conventions and release other journalists that it’s holding.”
The video posted online yesterday appeared to depict Sotloff’s murder as having been carried out by the same man reported to have executed Foley. The man repeated the claim he made in the video showing Foley’s death that Sotloff’s murder was in retaliation for American air strikes that have frustrated the Islamic State’s drive to carve out a caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
As in the case of Foley’s death, it was not immediately possible to determine exactly when or where Sotloff’s killing took place.
The grisly executions have highlighted the ongoing dangers for journalists reporting from Iraq and Syria amid spreading violence. IPI’s North American Committee last year called on media outlets to exercise greater care in sending correspondents to the region. That call followed a meeting of IPI’s Foreign Editors Circle in Toronto bringing together leading international news editors from the United States and Canada to discuss journalists’ safety.
IPI will be holding a similar meeting again on Sept. 17 at this year’s joint annual conference of the American Society of Newspapers (ASNE) and the Associated Press Media Editors (APME).
