Hours after the murders of reporter Alison Parker and videographer Adam Ward, American journalists have begun tweeting out their support of WDBJ, the Roanoke, Virginia TV station where both broadcasters worked.
Using the hashtag #WeStandWithWDBJ, anchors, producers and photographers offered words of support and condolences in the wake of the murders.
To all my Media colleagues, let's show support by posting your reporter and yourself or your whole newsroom with #WeStandWithWDBJ
— Sean M. Byrd (@byrdyman) August 26, 2015
My heart goes out to the @WDBJ7 team today who mourns the loss of two of their own while having to cover the story. #WeStandWithWDBJ
— Noah Gray CNN (@NoahGrayCNN) August 26, 2015
I can't imagine putting together an obit piece on my co-workers. #WeStandWithWDBJ
— Karna Bergstrom (@KmbSmile) August 26, 2015
Been in scary spots as a journalist. Would never have thought a simple morning assignment would be more dangerous. #WeStandWithWDBJ.
— David Jesse (@reporterdavidj) August 26, 2015
News crews: join us in saying #WeStandWithWDBJ. Proud & not afraid to be a journalist today. #TV #WDBJ @WDBJ7 @KVUE pic.twitter.com/um11SgrtBh
— Vicki Chen (@vchen24) August 26, 2015
@vchen24 @WDBJ7 @KVUE #westandwithWDBJ Proud & not afraid to be a journalist today #TV #PrintmediastandswithWDBJ pic.twitter.com/gg75YtmuUX
— Matt Bush (@PhotoJouMATT) August 26, 2015
#WeStandWithWDBJ. pic.twitter.com/5VdPhbbzPX
— Molly Garrity (@MollyGarrity) August 26, 2015
The bulletins, which have been spreading within the last hour, echo similar messages of support that began circulating after the murders of journalists from the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo earlier this year. Using the hashtag #jesuischarlie (French for “I am Charlie”) cartoonists, reporters, editors and entire news organizations began posting public expressions of grief and empathy within hours of the attack.
Parker and Ward were fatally shot by Vester Flanagan, a former employee of WDBJ, who took to Twitter to post a tirade against the station and its employees. After posting a first-person video of the shootings to Twitter and Facebook, Flanagan fled police before killing himself.
