American Society of Authors and Writers

D. J. Herda, President of the American Society of Authors and Writers:

All civilization decries the senseless, ruthless, and barbaric murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. While engaged in no act more purposeful or clandestine than that of securing the news for others to read and by which people and governments form opinions and make policies, Pearl was taken captive by Islamic fanatics, terrorized, and slain.

The American Society of Authors and Writers joins with the rest of the civilized world in its bereavement for a member of the Fourth Estate, for one of its own, and for the wife and unborn child who survive him. The Society pledges to do whatever it can to help the surviving family members endure the emptiness in their lives caused by this tragedy and to work toward strengthening the bonds between working journalists and media professionals everywhere.

The American Society of Authors and Writers urges the Pakistani government to use every means available in order to bring to justice the perpetrators of the murder of Daniel Pearl, wherever they may cower, and to reign in all violators of basic human rights and the rules of decency and morality.

Linda Foley, President of The Newspaper Guild-CWA:

The kidnapping and killing of Daniel Pearl was a senseless act of brutality that serves no purpose of any kind. He was a professional, willing to risk his life to report the facts to help us all understand one of the most complex and important stories of our time.

Danny Pearl is just the latest victim in an alarming series of deadly attacks against journalists involved in covering the conflict in Afghanistan.

The circumstances of Danny Pearl’s murder require our country, and all nations that value decency, to stand up and condemn such cold-blooded barbarism.

Members of The Newspaper Guild-CWA and the entire journalism community share the sorrow of his family and friends. We will support efforts to provide for the needs of his wife and unborn child.

Robert Leger, President-Elect of the Society of Professional Journalists:

Killing Mr. Pearl accomplished nothing for his kidnappers. It only turned the world further against them.

We join our colleagues at the Wall Street Journal, and Mr. Pearl’s family, in grieving his death. We urge other journalists to adhere to the tenet of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Code that calls for sensitivity to those affected by tragedy or grief.