One Year Ago Was Highpoint for Press Freedom Hostage Recovery
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 – The following statement is from Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club.
“On Aug. 1 history was made as American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva joined their families on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews. This was press freedom at its best. The U.S. government showed what it is capable of doing by putting together a complicated multi-nation negotiation with diplomatic skill and determination. Despite the difficult conditions of negotiations with Russia during a war, the U.S. showed that no challenge is too great when it comes to bringing Americans home. Several prominent Russia dissidents were also freed at the same time including Vladamir Kara-Mursa, a Washington Post Opinion contributor.
“One year on we are so happy for these journalists and their families who are reunited, healthy and thriving. And we are grateful to the huge team that mobilized to bring about this fantastic result.
“Central to this process where Press Club members and staff including: Paul Beckett, the Wall Street Journal’s point person on the case who worked closely with Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post and Bill McCarren, then a press freedom consultant for the Club. Club President Emily Wilkins was a strong leader during this campaign and was frequently speaking out and interviewed on these cases. Ultimately these colleagues were central to the formation of the new Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club.
“The Club hosted more than a dozen events for Evan and Alsu during their time in prison creating hundreds of interviews and millions of media impressions. Every major press briefing on Evan’s case was held at the Press Club. The Club’s investment in these cases was well over six figures and included special events like a 24-hour read-a-thon, a 5K-run, lobbying, media training and advertising.
“There are lessoned learned here that can be repeated in the future. They include the strong initial coordination between the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and New York Times, which saw all three organizations running the same advertising content at the same time. The Press Freedom space has never seen anything like that before. These campaigns have set a new bar for what success looks like. Also it was key that the Journal made a determined effort to create space for Alsu’s case in all their efforts after she was taken. This was noticed by all and is too their great credit.
“These cases also show the need for adjustment in one area of hostage recovery policy which is the treatment of journalists when considering the wrongful detention designation. The Center proposes that when a journalist is taken there should be a presumption that the detention is wrongful. There is significant danger to journalists in the current system used by the government. Even in this case which is a model for success the system let journalists down.
“In Evan’s case his wrongful detention status was approved in a record 13 days. It is safe to assume this is the fastest the system can work. That meant, in this case, that Russia had 13 news cycles to run propaganda that was unopposed at a time when coverage was at its height and opinions were being formed. Russia said Evan was “caught red handed” as a spy. News organization printed that and that our government was working to determine if his arrest was wrongful. That is not acceptable.
“In Alsu’s case her detention was not declared wrongful until a deal was struck for her release. This is unacceptable and the government has not – even now -- provided a good answer for this failure of response. When we won’t say publicly Alsu’s detention is wrongful what are we saying? We can do better. The Press Freedom Center will continue to press this policy issue in the months and years to come. We must make progress.”
About the National Press Club
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. Based in Washington, D.C., the Club has nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts newsmakers from around the globe, champions press freedom worldwide through its Press Freedom Center and serves as a hub for journalistic excellence and advocacy.
Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534, [email protected] for the National Press Club Center for Press Freedom