Anthony Shadid Said to Have Blamed Death on New York Times
Anthony Shadid, the Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times reporter who died in Syria this year, had heated arguments with his editors just prior to his final trip into the country, a cousin of Shadid’s says, and told his wife that were he to die the New York Times would be to blame.
“The phone call the night before he left [Turkey for Syria], there was screaming and slamming on the phone in discussions with editors,” Ed Shadid, a cousin to the late reporter, said last night at the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee’s convention in Washington, D.C.
“It was at this time that he called his wife and gave his last haunting directive that if anything happens to me I want the world to know the New York Times killed me,” Ed Shadid said.
A spokesperson with the ADC confirmed those remarks to POLITICO, which were first made available in a rush transcript provided by ADC member William Youmans, who attended the event. Other attendees also tweeted the remark last night, noting the audience’s surprise at Ed Shadid’s statements.
The ADC is working on a full press release and video of last night’s event, which will be made available later in the day and posted here.
The New York Times declined to comment. (UPDATE: NYT: We did not pressure Anthony Shadid)
In his conversation with editors, Anthony Shadid is said to have complained about logistical issues regarding his transfer into Syria. Ed Shadid also told the audience that his cousin was suffering from health issues prior to his entry into Syria. Anthony Shadid died from an acute asthma attack on February 16.
ADC legal director Abed Ayoub said the audience was “shocked” by Ed Shadid’s comments, but said the committee, where Anthony Shadid was once an intern, would focus on Shadid’s legacy and would not take a position on the causes of his death.
“We didn’t expect what was said to be said. I think everyone was shocked,” Ayoub told POLITICO Sunday. “It is still a great loss, and we are going to focus on why we honored him. We’re not taking a position on how he died. The facts will work themselves out..”
The ADC’s internship program is named after Shadid.
“He’s a great loss not only to the Arab-American community, but to the community in general,” Ayoud said. “He really was a very talented journalist.”
UPDATE: Having listened to Ed Shadid’s comments again, Ayoub called to clarify the ADC’s stance on the causes of Shadid’s death.
“The major points of Ed Shadid’s remarks were one, what you’ve reported, and two, he urged for greater regulations within the journalism industry for journalists forced to go into war zones,” Ayoub said.
“From our end, we do stand by that, that there should be a closer look at the standards that are being used in sending journalists into war zones,” he continued. “It is great loss for the community, but the facts surrounding his death are interesting and there should be a closer look at the circumstances that led to that. We do hope that action is taken and rules are put in place so that we don’t lose another talent such as his.”
“This is certainly a cause for concern, and ceratinly we urge the industry to take a close look at the allegations and at his requests,” he said.
Ayoub said that video of the speech will be made available within the next hour.
UPDATE 2: Due to technical difficultues at ADC, video of Ed Shadid’s remarks will not be available until Monday.
Dylan Byers
Politico