British photographer Tim Hetherington and American Chris Hondros were killed while covering the conflict in the besieged Libyan city of Misurata. It is reported that two other journalists were also injured: Michael Christopher Brown and Guy Martin, a British photographer with the Panos Pictures agency.
 
Photojournalists regularly put themselves in harm's way, generating publicity about injustice and conflict across the globe. In so doing they make a crucial contribution to the preservation of all our freedoms: clearly defining that which is unacceptable and abhorrent in a world that prefers to think of itself as civilised. The tragedy is that every so often a payment in blood is taken in retribution for their commitment to bringing the light, and as a result hope, of this publicity to the darker areas of our planet.  
 
Tim Hetherington was born in Liverpool, and read literature at Oxford University. He lived in New York and was a contributing photographer for Vanity Fair magazine. Known for his long-term documentary work, he lived and worked in West Africa for eight years as well reported on humanitarian issues worldwide, including his recent book 'Infidel' about a group of US soldiers in Afghanistan. His film 'Restrepo', about a platoon of soldiers in Afghanistan, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar this year in the Best Documentary Feature category. He was 41 years old.
 
Our thoughts and condolences go to Tim's and Chris's families, friends, and colleagues as we also think of those of Michael and Guy.
 
 
Rosemary Wilman Hon.FRPS
President
The Royal Photographic Society