An astounding 1,337 journalists have died in the line of duty since 1992—a fact that doesn’t get much publicity, ironically enough, considering the individuals involved. 

The Committee to Protect Journalists decided to set the record straight in the wake of the high profile murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The independent nonprofit organization turned to Fred & Farid New York, to change that. The result was a memorial movement dubbed “The Last Column,” featuring a logo made from the names of the 1,337 journalists killed, a book with the final works from more than 20 of them, and video and audio interviews with their friends and families.

The campaign launched March 13, 2019, with events in New York and Washington, D.C., and a panel about the human cost of journalism at SXSW. The New York Times, Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal featured prominent donated placements. And 1,000 limited-edition copies of the book were shared through influencers and partnerships with prominent bookstores, including Shakespeare and Company in Paris. 

A website became hub for the movement, featuring The Last Column e-book, video interviews and a podcast where loved ones read the final articles of those killed.

The effort earned additional coverage in Time, The Hill, The New York Post and Monocle, plus on-air coverage on CNN International, MSNBC, Al Jazeera and C-Span. It was also honored twice with a Wood Pencil at D&AD.

—Jack Neff