Today, on the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing renews its call for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian detention center.
SABEW members attending its annual conference last month in St. Petersburg, Florida wore “Free Evan” buttons provided by the WSJ. Members also viewed a moving video that featured Gershkovich’s parents and sister discussing his plight and received an update from WSJ news editor and SABEW board member Robert Barba about the media organization’s efforts to obtain Gershkovich’s release.
Russia’s arrest of a financial journalist trying to report on that nation’s economic conditions underscores the need for a free and independent press.
It is simply wrong to jail a reporter for doing his or her job.
