Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony Shadid died in Syria after an asthma attack Thursday. He was 43.
Shadid, from Oklahoma, worked for the New York Times and visited UCO (above photo) as part of the university’s relationship with the Times. But he came home often to visit family.
He spoke at the Oklahoma Memorial Museum, as well as at The Oklahoman.
I met Shadid briefly during one of his visits to UCO. In fact, I tweeted (and facebooked) his speech. He was such a genuine person. Loved giving back to students.
After his speech, he relaxed at a UCO luncheon and talked about his children and how he was happy to be able to see them.
Shadid did not die in conflict, but his father, Buddy, told The Oklahoman that he wasn’t able to get medical treatment for this asthma attack. Journalists who report outside the U.S. can face danger in other ways. Poor access to medical treatment is one.
The Associated Press has an interactive of his life and times as a foreign correspondent.
His website, AnthonyShadid.com
It was a sad day for journalism and many journalists alike to see that a person who gives back so much of his time and knowledge to others would have his life cut short due to such an unecessary thing as an asthma attack. Since hearing of his passing I know i have tried to make myself more aware of the risks these journalists put themselves in just to give us the public the information we want to know, and often times it’s from locations that very few of us would ever go to. RIP Anthony Shadid
What a loss for journalism. He died for journalism, and that in itself is good journalism. If he couldn’t get medical care because of his location, then it was for his job. He sounds like a great man!
Great reflection, Yvette. Thanks for sharing that with us. You might also like to read President Betz’s blog post on Mr. Shadid here: http://blogs.uco.edu/president/2012/02/18/a-caring-insightful-journalist-and-teacher-is-lost/