Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Member of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Co-Founder of the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, released the following statement about the passing of New York Times Correspondent Anthony Shadid while reporting from Syria:

      “As a foreign correspondent for many different papers over the years, Anthony Shadid informed our world view, gave us insights no other journalist could, and bore witness to history being made in the Middle East.  We learned of world events from his dispatches from the other side of the globe – from the fall of Sadaam Hussein, to the Arab Spring, and most recently the turmoil rankling Syria and Libya.  There were always other stories, but his were the gold standard.

      “But what I admired most about Anthony Shadid was his persistence, even in the face of mortal peril.  He exemplified what a free press should strive to be.   During his assignments in the Middle East, Anthony was shot, harassed, hounded, arrested and abused.  But those acts of violence could not deter him, and he continued to report on the events shaping our world.

      “Jill Abramson, the Executive Director of the New York Times, put it best – ‘his empathy for its citizens' struggles and his deep understanding of their culture and history set his writing apart…he was their poet and their champion.’  Anthony’s intrepid spirit and story-telling ability is irreplaceable, and will live on.  My heart goes out to his wife, son and daughter, and parents.”

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