Wyclef Jean Headlines Fundraiser for Haiti Journalists 7 pm, Jan. 26; $75

Wyclef Jean will be among several Haitian musicians performing at the National Press Club at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at an event to raise funds for journalists in Haiti.

Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive will be among the speakers at the Night of Solidarity for Haitian Journalists, which is also designed to raise awareness of the need for a strong, vibrant and free press as Haiti rebuilds from last year’s earthquake.

Tickets are $75 for National Press Club members and can be purchased online at www.press.org or at the door. This event will include light appetizers and a cash bar.

Some of Haiti’s best musicians will perform at the event, which will last from 7 until 10 p.m. and will bring together many of the country’s cultural and political leaders in support of a free press.

Michel Martelly, also known as “Sweet Micky” is a pioneer of Haiti’s unique Konpa (or kompas) style of dance music. He was also a candidate in last year’s presidential elections.

AZOR is a leading drummer and Voodoo singer, while King Khino is a leading Konpa and R&B singer.

Other speakers include Guy Lamothe, director general of Haiti’s Investments Facilitation Center, and Mirlande Manigat, another presidential candidate.

The night will end with a performance by Jean, the grammy-award winning Hip-Hop artist and former member of the Fugees.

International advocacy group Reporters Without Borders will issue a report on press freedom in Haiti at the event. There will also be a silent auction of paintings by Haitian artists.

At least 30 journalists were among nearly 300,000 people killed in the earthquake that struck on Jan. 12, 2010. Proceeds from a Night of Solidarity will be used to provide social and professional assistance to Haitian journalists and financial assistance to families of journalists killed in the disaster.

The Night of Solidarity with Haitian Journalists is organized by Haiti-based press freedom watchdog, SOS Journalistes, in partnership with The National Press Club, the Capital Press Club and Trice Edney News Wire.

SOS Journalistes is an organization of Haitian journalists created to defend liberty of the press. It accomplishes this through advocacy for at risk journalists, social and professional support.

-- Melinda Cooke, [email protected]