The LA Press Club journalism awards are given each year for excellence in reporting.
In the ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles Sunday the Daniel Pearl Prize for Courage and Integrity in Journalism will also be awarded to the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo. “I did not know “Charlie Hebdo”, I cannot even read cartoons – I am from a different generation,” said Prof. Judea Pearl with a chuckle in his voice. Prof. Pearl is the father of the slain Wall Street Journal reporter for whom the award is named. “But after
the horrendous terror attack on January 7, 2015 there was no questions we were going to honor the brave staff of “Charlie Hebdo” with the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism”.
The weekly French magazine had become a frequent target of threats since its first cartoon cover of Muhammad in 2006. On January 7, 2015 Islamic gunmen tragically made good on that promise when they stormed the office of “Charlie Hebdo” and killed 12 people. Among the victims were cartoonists and Editor Stèphane Charbonnier aka Charb, Jean Cabut aka Cabu, Philippe Honoré, Bernard Velhak aka Tignous, cartoonist and comic writer Georges Wolinski, Editors Elsa Cayat and Mustapha Ourrad.
While the world protested against this and other terror attacks, stars in Hollywood showed their support on the Red Carpet of the 72nd Golden Globe Awards. Among those wearing “Je suis Charlie” stickers and pins were A-Listers Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson, Kathy Bates, Michael Keaton and George Clooney. HFPA President Theo Kingma received standing ovations for his speech about freedom of expression as a beacon that is reflected across the globe. “Together we will stand united against anyone who would repress free speech anywhere from North Korea to Paris,” said Kingma capturing the feeling in the room and in the world that night. Prof. Pearl supports Hollywood celebrities stepping out for freedom of artistic expressions however “they should also be subject to the scrutiny of good taste.”
The main question in Judea Pearl’s mind remains, “How do we eradicate terrorism? Shamefully, since my son’s death in 2002 the United Nations has not even been able to define terrorism.” While investigating Al Qaeda links to shoe-bomber Richard Reid, “Wall Street Journal” Southeast Asia Bureau Chief Daniel Pearl was kidnapped outside of Karachi, Pakistan, on January 23, 2002 and murdered on February 1, 2002 by terrorists. The same year, his parents, Judea and Ruth Pearl, created in conjunction with the Los Angeles Press Club, the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism. Among the past recipients of the w award who epitomize courage and integrity are Richard Engel, Anna Politkóvskaya, Khaled Abu Toameh, Sandra Rodríguez Nieto and Bob Woodruff.
“Over the course of time terrorism has changed its forms,” Pearl told us, “however the core element, that a group of people elevates its grievances above the norm of civilized society, remains the same and the civilized world has yet to devise an effective tool against this phenomena.” Judea and Ruth Pearl will present the Daniel Pearl Award on Sunday June 28 during the 57th Southern California Journalism Awards at the Biltmore Hotel here in Los Angeles. “Yes, the possibility of a threat is scary,” admits Judea Pearl, “at the same time we have to conduct our lives as usual which is another way of defying terrorism.”
Three HFPA members, Janet Nepales, Ruben Nepales and Barbara Gasser, are finalists in several categories for International Journalism.
Barbara Gasser