National Press Club Statement on Death of AFP Video Journalist Arman Soldin

WASHINGTON, May 9 – Following is a statement from Eileen O’Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on journalist Arman Soldin, who was killed by rocket fire while working in Ukraine on Tuesday.

“Our hearts go out to the family and colleagues of Arman Soldin, an AFP video journalist who was working Tuesday outside of Bakhmut in Ukraine when he was killed by a rocket fired by Russian forces. Soldin was with a group of journalists who were covering Ukrainian troops when they came under heavy fire. The rocket landed close to Soldin. He was 32. Journalism is always a dangerous business but even more so in a war zone. Journalists like Arman Soldin are close to the frontlines and constantly risking their lives to tell the world the story of the battle for Ukraine.”

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with the skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. The NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for The National Press Club