List of journalists killed in the United States

Numerous journalists have been murdered or killed in the United States while reporting, covering a military conflict, or because of their status as a journalist. At least 39 of these have been directly targeted as a result of their journalistic investigations.[1]

The most dangerous sector of the US media after 1980 has been the ethnic press.[2][3] The last journalist killed in the United States was Chauncey Bailey, who was the editor at a large circulation African American newspaper. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, ten journalists serving the Vietnamese, Haitian and Chinese immigrant communities were killed in political assassinations between 1980 and 1993.[4][5]

Since the September 11 attacks, terrorism-related deaths involving journalists is another trend.[6][7] The only professional, working journalist to die from the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City was photojournalist Bill Biggart, who was killed from falling debris as he was taking photographs.[8][9] However, the International Federation of Journalists, which also counts media workers, said that six other media workers and a journalist who was not working at the time died in the attacks. Among those media workers listed as killed were six broadcast TV engineers, who worked inside a tower, and another professional photojournalist, who was a passenger on the first plane that was flown into the WTC.[10]

Other journalists and media workers killed on 9/11:

In some cases, journalists have been attacked but survived, such as Victor Riesel.[12]

List

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Date Name Employer Location Notes Refs
2 August 2007Chauncey BaileyThe Oakland PostOakland, CaliforniaAfter investigating corruption in his community, Bailey was murdered on his way to work by the target of his reporting.[1][13]
5 October 2001Robert Stevens (photo editor)SunBoca Raton, FloridaMurdered as one of the media targets of the 2001 anthrax attacks less than a month after 9/11.[14]
11 September 2001Bill BiggartFreelance photographerManhattan, New York City, New YorkKilled while photographing the rescue effort outside the World Trade Center before the tower collapsed.[15]
18 October 2000 James Edwin RichardsCitizen journalist, editor and publisherVenice, California Richards was murdered at his Oakwood neighborhood home in the neighborhood where he had established himself as a citizen crime reporter.[16][17]
24 October 1993Dona St. PliteWKAT-AMLittle Haiti, Miami, FloridaSt. Plite was attending a benefit for former colleague Fritz Dor when he was also assassinated for supporting Jean-Bertrand Aristide.[18][19]
11 March 1992Manuel de Dios UnanueEl Diario La PrensaQueens, New York City, New YorkMurdered by Colombian drug traffickers for writing about drug trade.[20][21]
15 March 1991Fritz D'OrWLQY-AM (1320)Little Haiti, Miami, FloridaA colleague of Olivier's at WLQY, he was assassinated as he left a club.[18][22]
18 February 1991Jean-Claude Olivier (a.k.a. Division Star)WLQY-AM (1320)Little Haiti, Miami, FloridaA colleague of Dor's, he was known for his controversial commentary and was assassinated on his way to his car.[18][23]
22 September 1990Triet LeVan Nghe Tien PhongBailey's Crossroads, VirginiaA columnist of controversial content for the same Vietnamese magazine that employed Nhan Trong Do. Assassinated.[5][24][25][26][27]
Nov. 22, 1989Nhan Trong DoVan Nghe Tien PhongFairfax County, VirginiaA layout designer who worked with Triet Le, he was the first employer of the Vietnamese-language magazine to be assassinated.[5][24][25][26]
9 August 1987Tap Van Pham (a.k.a. Hoai Diep Tu)MaiGarden Grove, CaliforniaHe was assassinated by arson while sleeping in his office by an anti-communist group that took responsibility.[5][24][25]
15 October 1984Henry Liu (a.k.a. Chiang Nan)Freelancer and authorDaly City, CaliforniaA critic of Taiwan who was assassinated by order from Taiwan.[28]
19 June 1984Alan BergKOA (AM)Denver, ColoradoA liberal radio show host who was murdered by a white nationalist group.[29]
24 August 1982Nguyen Dam PhongTu Do (Freedom)Houston, TexasWas assassinated at his home by an anti-communist group.[5][24][25][30]
21 July 1981Duong Trong LamCai Dinh Lang (The Village Temple)San Francisco, CaliforniaKilled by gunfire from a member of one of two anti-communist groups that claimed responsibility for his assassination. [5][24][25][31][32]
9 March 1977Maurice Williams (journalist)WHUR-FMWashington, D.C.He was murdered during the 1977 Hanafi Siege.[33]
2 June 1976Don BollesArizona RepublicPhoenix, ArizonaMurdered as a result of a car bomb set by the mafia outside the Clarendon Hotel.[34][35][36]
29 August 1970Rubén SalazarLos Angeles TimesLos Angeles, CaliforniaSalazar was killed by deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department while covering the Chicano Moratorium protest in East Los Angeles. The park where the protest took place was later renamed Salazar Park in his honor.[37][38]
29 July 1949W.H. "Bill" MasonKBKI radioAlice, TexasKnown as a crusading radio journalist in a county ruled with an iron hand by local law enforcement, Mason was shot dead by Sheriff deputy Sam Smithwick, who Mason had publicly accused of running a strip club. The senate candidate who lost to Lyndon B. Johnson believed that Smithwick had information about how the election had been rigged but Smithwick was hanged before their meeting. Mason's tombstone reads: "He had the nerve to tell the truth for a lot of little people."[1][39][40][41]
22 January 1945Arthur KashermanPublic Press (alternative)Minneapolis, MinnesotaHis death figured into Hubert Humphrey's mayoral victory.[42]
9 December 1935Walter LiggettMidwest AmericanMinneapolis, MinnesotaHe wrote about political corruption and organized crime.[43][44]
6 September 1934Howard GuilfordThe Saturday PressMinneapolis, MinnesotaEditor of a newspaper that exposed corruption and organized crime. He and partner Jay Near won the US Supreme Court decision in Near v. Minnesota.[45][46]
23 July 1930Jerry BuckleyWMBC-AMDetroit, MichiganGunned down on election night.[47]
16 July 1927Donald Ring MellettCanton Daily NewsCanton, Ohio[1]
9 November 1908Edward W. CarmackNashville AmericanNashville, TennesseeFormer congressman and senator. He was killed by a former army officer who disapproved of his name appearing in an article and threatened the editor.[48]
1 April 1898William Cowper Brann (a.k.a. Brann the Iconoclast)IconoclastWaco, TexasWrote critical articles about Baptists. Shot in the back during a duel.[49]
1 February 1891Ignacio MartínezEl MundoLaredo, TexasOwned a newspaper that wrote critical articles on the regime of Mexican President Porfirio Díaz. His murderers fled to Mexico and were never arrested.[50]
27 March 1884Charles L. KuszThe Gringo and GreaserManzano, New MexicoShot through his window by unknown gunman on horses. His newspaper was reform oriented and created enemies as it sought changes.[51]
17 November 1881A.B. ThorntonBoonville NewsBoonville, MissouriThe town marshal killed Thornton because of criticism from the newspaper and won acquittal based on the perception that the criticism was too intense.[52]
12 June 1881Jerome James CollinsNew York HeraldBennett Island, Bering StraitAn Irish American, Collins founded the Clan na Gael, an Irish republican organization in the United States, and left on a polar expedition as a reporter and meteorologist with the Jeannette expedition to avoid police. However, all but two survived the sinking of the vessel.[53][54]
23 April 1880Charles De YoungThe Daily Dramatic ChronicleSan Francisco, CaliforniaWith his brother M. H. de Young, he founded the newspaper that would become the San Francisco Chronicle. The mayor's son killed him in revenge for a feud de Young had with his father.[55]
27 March 1877J. Clarke SwayzeTopeka Daily BladeTopeka, KansasSwayze was killed after publishing a critical article about his murderer.[56]
25 June 1876Mark Kellogg (reporter)Associated PressLittle Bighorn Battlefield, MontanaThe first Associated Press journalist to die while reporting.[57]
5 November 1871Frederick Wadsworth LoringAppleton's JournalWickenburg, ArizonaWas killed while on assignment out west in what is known as the Wickenburg Massacre, an attack on a stagecoach by native Americans.[58]
14 September 1866Ridgeway GloverFrank Leslie's Illustrated NewspaperFort Phil Kearny, WyomingWhile covering the American Indian Wars, Glover was killed and mutilated during the construction of Fort Kearny in 1866.[59]
1864Albert StreetThe Mobile RegisterUnknownOne of the few southern journalists killed during the US Civil War.
6 May 1864Samuel Fiske (aka Dunn Browne)The Springfield RepublicanFredericksburg, VirginiaCapt. Fiske wrote under the name Dunn Browne and served in the army and was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness.[60]
6 October 1863James O'NealFrank Leslie's Illustrated NewspaperBaxter Springs, KansasO'Neal was an artist-correspondent murdered by Quantrill's guerrillas at the Baxter Springs Massacre.[61]
23 June 1863Lynde Walter BuckinghamNew York HeraldAldie, VirginiaKilled as a result of an ambush during the U.S. Civil War. He was buried at the Mount Zion Old School Baptist Church-VDHR 53-339 in Aldie.[62]
6 April 1862Irving CarsonNew York TribunePittsburg Landing, TennesseeFirst journalist to be killed during the U.S. Civil War. Killed by a cannonball fire while covering the Battle of Shiloh and General Ulysses S. Grant.[63]
20 May 1856James King of WilliamDaily Evening BulletinSan Francisco, California[64][65]
22 June 1854Joseph MansfieldSan Joaquin RepublicanStockton, CaliforniaMansfield was killed in a fight with a rival editor, both of whom were Democrats.[66]
15 September 1848John JenkinsVicksburg SentinelVicksburg, MississippiKilled in a fight with an attorney after the two had a previous altercation.[67]
29 February 1844James A. RyanVicksburg SentinelVicksburg, MississippiThe Vicksburg Sentinel was a Democrat paper and Ryan was killed by his rival Whig counterpart in a duel on their second fight.[68]
6 June 1843James HaganVicksburg SentinelVicksburg, MississippiHe was killed by the son of a man Hagan had criticized in his newspaper.[67][68][69][70]
7 November 1837Elijah Parish LovejoyAlton ObserverAlton, IllinoisThis abolition editor was killed by a mob supporting slavery in the Union.[71][72]

Maps

Phoenix
Washington
Houston
Denver
Fairfax
Miami
New York
1976-Present. Places outside of California where American journalists have been killed in the United States.
Minneapolis
1926-1975. Places in the United States where American journalists have been killed.
Battle of Little Bighorn
1876-1925. Places in the United States where American journalists have been killed.
Alton
Vicksburg
Stockton
1826-1875. Places in the United States where American journalists have been killed.

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Journalists killed in the United States.
Journalists killed in the United States
Elijah Parish Lovejoy (portrait)
Elijah Parish Lovejoy
 
James King of William (portrait)
James King of William
 
Frederick Wadsworth Loring (portrait)
Frederick Wadsworth Loring
 
Mark Kellogg (portrait)
Mark Kellogg
 
William Cowper Brann (portrait)
William Cowper Brann
 
Edward Ward Carmack (portrait)
Edward Ward Carmack
 
Walter W Liggett (portrait)
Walter W Liggett
 
Rubén Salazar (portrait)
Rubén Salazar
 

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Peele, Thomas (2012-08-01). "Death stalks some reporters working their beats in U.S.". Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  2. ↑ Katel, Peter (July 5, 1993). "A Rash of Media Murders". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  3. ↑ Kuruvila, Matthai (January 31, 2008). "Grassroots ethnic reporting a perilous calling". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  4. ↑ Stacy, Stacy Lu (June 1996). "Journalism for the Brave | American Journalism Review". Ajr.org. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Carney, Eliza Newlin (November 1993). "The Dangers of Being A Vietnamese Reporter". American Journalism Review. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  6. ↑ Simon, Joel (2009-02-10). "Attacks on the Press in 2008: Introduction". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  7. ↑ Guggenheim, Ken (2002-05-06). "Memorial Adds Names of 51 Journalists". Editor & Publisher. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  8. ↑ O'Clery, Conor (2001-12-22). "The parting shot". The Irish Times.
  9. ↑ Adler, Jerry (2001-10-15). "Shooting To the End". Newsweek. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "100 Journalists Killed In 2001". CBS News. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 "At Pakistan/Afghanistan Border; Journalist Among Dead and Media Workers Missing". IFEX.org. 2001-09-25.
  12. ↑ Gelder, Van (January 5, 1995). "Victor Riesel, 81, Columnist Blinded by Acid Attack, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  13. ↑ Christopher Heredia, Leslie Fulbright and Marisa Lagos (2007-08-02). "Hit man kills newspaper editor on Oakland street". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  14. ↑ "Chronology of 2001 anthrax events". sun-sentinel. 2012-12-24. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
  15. ↑ Neal, Rome (2002-09-06). "Bill Biggart: Final Exposures". CBS News. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  16. ↑ "Was an LA Activist Shot for His Anti-Crime Efforts? - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  17. ↑ Piccalo, Gina; Streeter, Kurt (Oct 19, 2000). "Venice Anti-Gang Activist Killed in His Driveway". LA Times. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Haiti's Culture of Violence Extends to Miami / The Christian Science Monitor". CSMonitor.com. 1993-10-27. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  19. ↑ "Haitian Commentator's Death". Sun Sentinel. 1993-10-26. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  20. ↑ Ruiz, Albor (2002-03-07). "Another Journalist Who Died In War". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  21. ↑ Brock, Pope (1992-03-30). "A Crusader Falls". People.com. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  22. ↑ Rhor, Monica (1991-03-17). "Militant Haitian Activist Shot And Killed By Unidentified ManMilitant Haitian Activist Shot And Killed By Unidentified Man". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  23. ↑ Associated Press (1991-02-21). "Controversial disc jockey shot to death". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Schou, Nick (2007-08-16). "A History of Violence". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Schou, Nick (2007-08-16). "Red Scare in Little Saigon". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Ayres Jr, B. Drummond (1990-09-25). "Slaying of Vietnamese Exiles in Washington Renews Refugee Fears". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  27. ↑ "Political motives in two killings?". Spokane Chronicle. 1990-09-24. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  28. ↑ Bishop, Katherine (1988-03-09). "California Jury Is Told Defendant Admitted Slaying Journalist". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  29. ↑ Estes, Clarissa Pinkola (2007-05-30). "The Ironies: White Supremacist Convicted of Slaying Alan Berg Dies". The Moderate Voice. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  30. ↑ Kolker, Claudia (1995-02-09). "Casualties of War". Houston Press. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  31. ↑ Coburn, Judith (Feb–Mar 1983). "Terror in Saigontown, U.S.A.". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  32. ↑ Tuyen Ngoc, Tran (Year). Behind the Smoke and Mirrors: The Vietnamese in California, 1975--1994. Location: Publisher. p. 149. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ↑ Vargas, Theresa (2007-03-12). "'Some Things You Never Forget': Thirty years ago, gunmen stormed three D.C. buildings, taking 150 hostages and one life". Washington Post. p. B01. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  34. ↑ "Don Bolles' tragic death". Michigan Daily. 1976-06-16. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  35. ↑ Hensley, Tatiana (2006-05-28). "Bolles: Cautious man, dedicated journalist". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  36. ↑ Kelly, Charles (2006-05-28). "Reverberations felt 30 years after Don Bolles' death". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  37. ↑ Gustavo Reveles Acosta (2010-08-29). "Ruben Salazar killing left impact on Hispanics, journalism". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  38. ↑ Laura Pulido; Laura Barraclough; Wendy Cheng (2012). A People's Guide to Los Angeles. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 4. ISBN 9780520270817.
  39. ↑ "Dime a dance place is shot up after slaying". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 1949-07-31. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  40. ↑ "On disputed Texas election". Schenectady Gazette. 1952-05-27. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  41. ↑ Salinas, Alicia. "Alice, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  42. ↑ "The murder of journalist Arthur Kasherman". Rubbed Out. 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  43. ↑ "Liggett slaying stirs demand for clean-up". Milwaukee Journal. 1935-12-15. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  44. ↑ Associated Press (1935-12-10). "Walter Liggett, editor, killed". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  45. ↑ Associated Press (1934-09-07). "Former newspaper editor is slain". Lewiston Evening Journal. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  46. ↑ United Press (1934-09-07). "Gag law case editor is slain". Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  47. ↑ "Death in Detroit". Time. 1930-08-04. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  48. ↑ "Woman Tells How Carmack Was Slain" (PDF). The New York Times. 1909-02-17. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  49. ↑ Conger, Roger N. "William Cowper Brann". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  50. ↑ Lloyd, Jane-Dale (1986). Porfirio Díaz frente al descontento popular regional, 1891-1893: antología documental (in Spanish). Universidad Iberoamericana. p. 65. ISBN 9688590118. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  51. ↑ "Lawless New Mexico". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 1889. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Crimes and casualties". The Sun. Nov 21, 1881. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Jerome collins' brother". Detroit Free Press. Feb 24, 1884. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  54. ↑ "The late jerome J collins". The Irish Times. March 7, 1884. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  55. ↑ McKee, Irving (August 1947). "The Shooting of Charles de Young". Pacific Historical Review ( – via JSTOR (subscription required) ) 16 (3).
  56. ↑ "Topeka:John W. Wilson, who shot J. Clarke Swayze". Western Home Journal. April 5, 1877. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  57. ↑ Liddell, Marlane A. (May 1998). "The AP Looks Back: 150 Years of Capturing the Moment". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  58. ↑ "The Pacific Coast, 1871: Frederick W. Loring's Death". Hartford Daily Courant. November 15, 1871. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  59. ↑ "Indian outrages". New York Times ( – via New York Times (subscription required) ). 1866-09-27. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  60. ↑ Fiske, Samuel (1866). Mr. Dunn Browne's Experiences in the Army. Boston: Nichols and Noyes. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  61. ↑ Nichols, Bruce (2004). Guerrilla Warfare in Civil War Missouri, Volume II, 1863. McFarland.
  62. ↑ "Did you know?" (newsletter). Mosby Heritage Area Association Newsletter. Mosby Heritage Area Association. February 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  63. ↑ Heidler, David Stephen; Jeanne T. Heidler; David J. Coles (2000). Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military. New York: W.W. Norton. pp. 426–427.
  64. ↑ Casey, James P. "Assassination of James King of Wm.: San Francisco, May 14th, 1856". The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  65. ↑ Woolley, Lell Hawley. "California 1849–1913 or The Rambling Sketches and Experiences of Sixty-Four Years' Residence in That State". Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  66. ↑ Noble, Doug. "Criminal annals 93: Gold fields and Judge Lynch". Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Davis, Jefferson (1974). James T. McIntosh, ed. The Papers of Jefferson Davis: Volume 2 June 1841-July 1846. Louisiana State University Press. pp. 252–253.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Davis, Jefferson (1974). James T. McIntosh, ed. The Papers of Jefferson Davis: Volume 2 June 1841-July 1846. Louisiana State University Press. p. 62.
  69. ↑ Davis, Jefferson (1974). James T. McIntosh, ed. The Papers of Jefferson Davis: Volume 2 June 1841-July 1846. Louisiana State University Press. pp. 318–319.
  70. ↑ "A Crime Scene: Vicksburg, Mississippi" (blog). The Trans-Mississippian. 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  71. ↑ "Elijah Parish Lovejoy". The Untold Story: Activism & Social Justice at Colby. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  72. ↑ "Elijah Parish Lovejoy". Altonweb at the Riverbend. Retrieved 2012-12-07.