Wall Street Journal is running blank Evan Gershkovich articles to mark one year of detainment

It’s been a year since Russia detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich for doing his job. On March 29, 2023, Gershkovich was arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting assignment. Despite having full press credentials from Russia's foreign ministry, he was accused of espionage, making him the first American detained on such an allegation since the Cold War. Gershkovich, the Journal and the U.S. government have denied the allegations. Yet just before the one-year anniversary, a Russian court extended his detention by three months. Now, a campaign from the Journal titled “Missing Articles,” created in partnership with Mother New York and London, is reminding the public of his story and calling for his release—by leaving blank article space in the paper representing the stories Gershkovich cannot currently write. “Missing Articles” are featured throughout the print edition of today’s Journal (March 29) and on its digital platforms. The stories feature only Gershkovich’s photo and byline, along with headlines that read, “This Story Cannot Be Written” and “His Story Should Be Here.” Small text in the corner of the pages detail the anniversary of his arrest with the hashtag #IStandwithEvan. Through the campaign, the Journal continues to amplify stories about Gershkovich’s detainment and the efforts to bring him home. In addition to today’s missing articles, the publication has called on Dow Jones colleagues and supporters to take photos with #IStandWithEvan shirts, pins or printouts to share on a coordinated social storm on Friday. Various publications have also donated ad space for “Missing Articles” in print or on their websites. The Journal also held several other events this past week to commemorate the anniversary. Last weekend, the company held a global “Swim for Evan” event, bringing together supporters swimming at different Brighton-named beaches in New York, California, the U.K., Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand, in a nod to Evan’s affinity for Brighton Beach in Brooklyn and on England’s south coast. On Wednesday, Dow Jones held a simultaneous global run in London, New York, Singapore, Paris, Johannesburg and other locations, as well as a 24-hour read-a-thon with friends and colleagues reading Evan’s reporting for 24 hours.

Wall Street Journal is running blank Evan Gershkovich articles to mark one year of detainment

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