A Message From U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Just before the candle lighting ceremony at the start of the 2008 Awards program, the OPC received an e-mail from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who adds her support for press freedom and vows to continue voicing concerns to governments who jail journalists.

Just before the candle lighting ceremony at the start of the 2008 Awards program, the OPC received an e-mail from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who adds her support for press freedom and vows to continue voicing concerns to governments who jail journalists.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton writes: 

I am very pleased to join the Overseas Press Club tonight in honoring Jim Lehrer and Ruth Gruber, along with the many international journalists recognized and supported by the OPC here in the United States and around the world.

I also join you in honoring the many journalists serving overseas who have been unlawfully jailed.

The troubling news about Roxana Saberi is only the latest reminder of the 125 detained journalists -- identified by the 2008 Prison Census report by the Committee to Protect Journalists -- who are being held in every continent, from Zimbabwe to Cuba.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with these individuals and their families during this difficult time and we vow to continue voicing our concerns to governments holding these journalists unjustly.