Steven Shoob honored at journalism memorial Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:30 PM EST Updated: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 1:09 PM EST
By Matt Butner
WASHINGTON (WTOC/WWBT) - Today, 62 new names of slain journalists were added to the Newseum Journalist's Memorial in Washington.
Among the nearly 2,000 names etched into the glass of the, you'll find the name of WTOC's own managing editor, producer, videographer, anchor, reporter and phenomenal friend Steven Shoob.
Along side the names of men and women who in some cases were murdered simply for doing their jobs as journalists, Steven might have thought his seemed out of place.
"Steven was never. 'me, me, me.' He always talked about other people. I don't think he realized how much people thought of him," said his brother Cary Shoob.
But to his family, his co-workers and his community, his life and work were invaluable and his tragic death affected everyone he had touched in his 58 years.
"The whole town was just upside down," said Cary. "The station is still, they still feel it. I talk to them. They say it's just never going to be the same."
"He was so dedicated to his work and to family and he was so funny," said daughter Jenna Robinson.
And now, Steven Shoob takes his place in the history of journalism as one of the 62 names added to this memorial this year, one of 62 worldwide to die in 2008 doing the important work of reporting the news.
His brother, his daughter and three granddaughters joined a long line of families who filed past a wall of photographs and laid flowers at the foot of the glass monument.
"He was just doing his job, doing the best he could," said Cary. "This is just such an honor for him. We're real proud of him."
The Newseum Journalist's Memorial contains the names of 1,913 journalists who have died either on the job or as a result of their reporting from 1837 to 2008.
They add names and rededicate the memorial each year.
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The names of 77 reporters, photographers and broadcasters were added to a memorial to honor slain journalists in the  in Washington, D.C..

"These 77 individuals were brought together in a fellowship that none of them would have chosen, a fellowship created by their commitment, their courage and, ultimately, their sacrifice," said Chris Wells, vice president of the , which runs the Newseum.

The Newseum Journalist's Memorial contains the names of 1,913 journalists dating back to 1837. Thirteen of the names added Monday were journalists killed in Iraq in 2008, which has been the most dangerous country for journalists since the Iraq War began in 2003.

Mexico was the second deadliest country for journalists last year, with five journalists being killed due to drug violence. According to Newseum records, Mexico had not been so dangerous for journalists in at least five years.

Among the slain journalists in Mexico was Armando Rodriguez, a reporter who covered crime along the border of El Paso, Texas, for 10 years. He was shot to death in his driveway while sitting in his car with his eight-year-old daughter.

"These murders strike at the heart of democracy by silencing speech and by depriving a community of the information it needs to conduct its affairs," said Newseum chairman Alberto Ibarguen.

The , a journalism museum in Washington, D.C..Another was , who ran the independent Russian news site , which the Russian government tried to shut down. Yevloyev was shot while in police custody; authorities said he tried to take an officer's weapon.

Some of the journalists added to the memorial were killed in accidents, rather than murders or war zones. Tom Borrelli, a sports writer for '''', died after falling down a set of metal stairs at a high school football stadium and landing on his head.

"I hate more than anything that it had to come to this, but it did come to this," said Borelli's widow, Karen. "And the honor is just tremendous. He would say he didn't deserve it, but he did."

Steven Shoob, a broadcaster with '''' in Georgia, was also added to the memorial. Shoob was struck by a car while covering an accident story in  in July 2008.

Among the new names, 62 journalists were killed in 2008 and 15 were killed in prior years, including '''' reporter Sarah Park, who died in 1957 in a small plane crash while covering a tsunami.

The name of the youngest journalist on the memorial was added Monday. Ryan Rendleman, 22, of the ''Daily Egyptian'' of  who died in April 2008 when a tractor-trailer hit his parked car while he was on assignment.