2006年VOA标准英语-59 Journalists Killed in 2005 Honored

By Margaret Besheer
Arlington, Virginia
03 May 2006

 
Man looks at memorial  
  
A total of 59 journalists who lost their lives last year in the pursuit of news have been honored by the Freedom Forum¹ in Arlington, Virginia.  Their names were added to a tall, spiraling memorial that bares the names of more than 1,600 reporters killed around the world since 1812.

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At a suburban² Washington park, under somber³ skies, the names of the reporters and where they died were read.

EMCEE:  "In Lebanon: Samir Qassir; Gebran Tueni; in Libya: Daif  Al-Gahzal Al-Shuhaibi; In Mexico: Dolores Guadalupe Garcia Escamilla; Raul Gibb Guerrero; in Nepal: Maheshwar Pahari; in Pakistan: Allah Noor; Amir Nowab."

Of the 59 journalists killed in 2005, 23 of them died in Iraq.  Peter Pritchard, the President of the Newseum, which is affiliated⁴ with the Freedom Forum, said six more journalists have been killed this year in that conflict.

"A total of 74 journalists have died in Iraq in the past three and a quarter years," he said.  "In all of World War II, 69 died, and in the 20-year conflict in Vietnam and Cambodia 63 were lost.  So that makes Iraq the most dangerous conflict in history for journalists."

Among the 23 reporters killed last year in Iraq was Steven Vincent, 49, a freelancer⁵ from New York.  His body was found in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the day after he was kidnapped. His widow, Lisa, was at the Freedom Forum ceremony and spoke⁶ to VOA about her husband's legacy⁷.

"I would like Steven to be remembered as a truly brave and courageous⁸ man, who knew the risks he was running," she said.  "He knew he was in danger, but he persevered⁹ nonetheless.  He really thought that what he was doing was more important than giving in to the terrorists.  He did what he had to do; he lost his life as a result; and for that he will forever be my hero."

In addition to Iraq, journalists lost their lives in 20 other countries last year.  Many of those reporters were targeted for their investigations¹⁰ of crime and corruption¹¹. 

The president of the American news network ABC, David Westin, says although the reporters who were killed came from different backgrounds and covered a variety of stories, they all had one thing in common.

"All of them died because they were seeking truth on behalf of all of us," said Mr. Westin.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, says many more reporters around the world are harassed¹², beaten and arrested.  In a new report, the media watchdog group found that repressive governments often let attacks on journalists go unpunished, and about 95 percent of journalist murders are not solved.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

3 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

4 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

5 freelancer   

n.自由职业者

参考例句：

• He has great interest in working as a freelancer.他对做个自由职业人很感兴趣。
• It's not always easy to make it as a freelancer.做个自由职业人，要能时常感觉满足，可不容易。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

8 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

9 persevered   

v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She persevered with her violin lessons. 她孜孜不倦地学习小提琴。
• Hard as the conditions were, he persevered in his studies. 虽然条件艰苦，但他仍坚持学习。 来自辞典例句

10 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

11 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

12 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们