Welcome everybody

2007-03-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

Blogging in Kazakhstan

Nowadays weblogs are the most popular entertainment for all over the world. People, especially young generation, like to post photos, some interesting information that can entertain society and so on. But in some countries blog is the only way to inform people about political and governmental problems. For many years we were reading newspapers and magazines, watching television, but blogs are something new and interesting for us, where everyone could share with their opinion. First blog appeared in United States 14 years ago in 1992 (material from Wikipedia), and takes spreading for all over the world in this short time. Talking about Kazakhstan, online diaries have just come and became known.
First of all starting from statistic, 3000 people are using blogs in Kazakhstan, and particularly 2310 people in Almaty plus 460 people in Astana. Trying to find out reasons why weblogs are not popular in our country, I made little poll and the questions were: “Do you know what weblog is? ”, “Do you have own weblog?” And only 0.8 % of respondent told that they are informed what weblog is. Furthermore only 2 people have their own weblogs.

Results:
Do you know what weblog is? - 0.8%(4 people)
Do you have your own weblog? - 0.4% (2 people)
Do you want to know more about weblogs? - All of them answered ”Yes”

The poll showed to us that problem is in providing with information and people are in supply to new technologies. Today there are a lot of conference and meetings where people can get information about blogs and even the number of users is not big, but it is growing every day. In Kazakhstan we have 2 main blog’s services, which are:

1. blog.kz

2. Kazakhstan.neweurasia.net
But, there is interesting fact that Kazakhstani society uses foreign web – services as blogger.com, livejournal.com, diary.ru and so on. The reason is the same; people do not know our local blog hosts. The only solution is time, because every developed country do not became well – fair at once. It is process that will take time and willing.
Nowadays bloggers are the main source of information in the not developed countries or where mass media totally controlled by government. The question is that may blogs regard as mass media? Of course journalism requires training or professional higher education. And people whom not able to write correctly or do not know elementary ethics in journalism cannot be journalists. But in some place it’s necessary to have bloggers, because it is the only way to change something. In Kazakhstan government do not thing that bloggers are the danger for them, may be it is so, but even today we can find blogs where government and politics are criticized by society.
In Almaty on 13 –14 of October was conference, which was devoted to blogging in Kazakhstan. And a lot of problems where considered during several hours. Special guests where accepted in that day, sharing with their opinion and knowledge, everyone where satisfied with meeting. Accomplishing director of Mass Media Supporting Center and editor of Presscenter.kz site Askar Shomekov told, “Blogging – is the one of the form of journalism, which permit to be maximum free.” Mr. Askar’s part was how promote blogs and how to make them famous. Founder and the main editor of Neweurasia blog Benjamin Paarman, who came from Germany, also shared with his idea about main advantages of blogs. “The main advantage of blog is easiness of its use. And the great tool, which helps to connect like-minded person or to level diametrically opposite opinions” told Benjamin. A lot of people shared with their opinion and own experience. People from Uzbekistan, where is censorship on Internet, told that at first no one looked on weblogs, but after revolution in which happened in March, everyone could find information only at online diaries. Weblogs play important role in many countries. (RSF_handbook_blogger_RU_new)
Returning to development of blogging in Kazakhstan, we should considered some problems. The three main problem were considered in this work:
• Challenges to the development of Kazakh-language blogs.
• Political blogs: to what extent is a bloger safe and anonymous?
• How to avoid censorship? Technical possibilities and information protection.
First big problem is in language barrier. Kazakh language began to be country language only after Soviet Union collapse, but before this language by little bit began to die. Because people talked on native language only in little villages (auyl). Even nowadays, especially among young generation cannot talk on own language. Government trying to make some decisions and to improve this situation, but everything begin from patriotism; person will not learn his language if he do not love his country. So, weblogs in Kazakhstan usually posts on Russian or sometimes in English languages. And another problem is in absence of Kazakh keyboard, without it no one will able to post any information.
Another big problem, spreading all over the world is political influence. In Kazakhstan the only place where people can share with their opinion about government is blogs, because president and his relatives own our main local mass media, so in every channel you could hear only good news and facts. Even if in Kazakhstan there are some oppositional newspapers, they cannot publish all truth, because of fear. Political problems are the beginning of third problem that make barriers to development is censorship. The most sharp and difficult problem is how to avoid censorship? It is very broad and complicated question which cannot be fully answered.
So, there are a lot of problems, which should be improved. People from another countries try to help to Kazakhstan; coming here they organize some meetings and conferences. New Informational Technologies are the most important thing in our life and it became part of us. Technologies cannot stop and return to back, it can only step to future with new inventions and tools. And to conclude Kazakhstan on the developing stage and weblogs are the next step of our society.

References:
1. Unknown date, Aleksey Borodkin,
http://www.advertology.ru/article38314.html
2. 2006, Author unknown, http://search.blogroll.ru/457/Bloggerov_nauchat_konspiracii.html
3. 2006, Didenko Olga
http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/RSF_handbook_blogger_RU_new.pdf
4. 2006, Nart Villeneuve
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15037#8
5. 04.05.2006, unknown author
http://www.blokada.org/print.php?sid=12905

2007-03-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

Ethics in Journalism
Code of ethics of Kazakhstan:

Journalist should follow ethical norms, values and standards. Every professional Journalist will faced whether follow ethics or not, first of all be accurate, balance, fair, objective and so on.
Every journalist should be responsible for his article, materials that he prepared for his media.
Every journalist should respect his colleagues and never humiliate or insult journalists from other mass media.
Journalist should be independent and do not allow to interfere to own work..
When journalist making his functions and work he should, first of all respect and promote democracy. Also they should respect and promote human rights and freedom. Secondly, when they enlighten some events journalist should be carefully for national security. And especially be careful not to touch the feeling of victims that they already has. And third reporters should honesty should follow ethical codes.
Sorrow and suffering. In this case journalist should be extremely warily behave toward victims, and to avoid all situations where you can reinforce people’s pain.
Economical issues. Journalist could not accept any money, bribes or gifts for writing information or articles.
When journalists work up and spread information it is not allow discriminating people by race, sex, language, religion, and philosophical and political principles.
Journalist cannot lie and tell that he is another person; hiding by invented figure or position; as well do not search for Information by illegal methods, use false materials and to abuse with societies trust.
Facts and all materials should be double checked, even if they where considered before, or published before. The source should be really reliable.
If because of some reasons journalist made mistake in some information, facts, he should immediately apologies and change his mistake.
Journalist first of all is responsible before readers and audience. He cannot consider facts that will connect and bring benefit and gain for him.
Journalist should be really interested in his job, love his working place and respect his heads and colleague. Do not betray own collective and be brilliant worker (to do as much as you can)
Journalist does not allow publishing names of victims, interviewing people, if they do not allow him to do this. Also he could not publish photos of victims and so on.
Journalist should accept and respect different values of cultures, but first of all respect and love own culture, history and freedom.

2006-11-24T00:40:00.000-08:00

Journalists and bloggers.

I want to contuniu the topic of weblogs and I find some interest facts about it. As we know "weblog" is the man who has the own page in the Internet and everyone are available to past comments and leave their own opinion. The total quantity of private diaries is comming to 5 million and new blog is creating every 5-8 second. A lot of blogs are devoted to culture, music, hobbies, animals and so on. But this month in Almaty a lot of bloggers came to sreak about developing of civic journalism and new ways to solve problems about freedom of speech.

One Iranian journalist give example of one case. "During strike of the drivers of the buses, the Mass media didn't cover this story. The newspapers and Television just ignore this case, while bloggers count up that it is very important thing ans left a lot of comment and article about this. Because of them the problem of drivers receive publicity and finally journalist were have to cover this story."

Another example were shared by Isaak Mao, who is one of the father of blogging in China. He told the story, where the police have to react to the message of bloggers. "In one Chinese town policemen beat unmercifully one student because they thought that he is tramp. He just was going on the street and searching for the work, when police run for him. He was damaged and died. " No one of media didn't tell about this case, however during one month more than 3 million of bloggers reacy on this case. Government had to react to this event and published special decree that prohibit to beat tramps.

There are a lot of cases like those in Kazakhstan, but unfortunately only few people have weblogs and may be afraid to write those events. And as on this conference where told that don't be afraid blogs and just use it to inform people and develop freedom. The bloggers are very strong power and I think that it will help to developing journalism and particulary freedom of speech, in all over the world and of course in Kazakhstan.

References:

2006-11-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

This is my adress in bloglines:
http://www.bloglines.com/blog/Aizhan

2006-11-21T23:58:00.000-08:00

Proporsal

Our team will do final project on Weblogs, PR and Ethics in PR. And Im going to write about particular region, where weblogs are just developing, and exactly about our country - Kazakhstan.

The weblogs are not popular among society and as survey shows only 2 % of respondance know what is weblog and how to create it.

The most popular weblog in Kazakhstan is neweurasia - is the community of weblogs, where not only talanted young people from Central Asia and Kavkaz, and their coevals from over the world can publish articals, share their opinion and so on.

The goal of neweurasia - to have big audience and users, but the main reason to gather young people, to give them an opportunity to publish opinions which happenes in Central Asia.
The author are able to speak on english, german, french, russia, uzbek, kazakh, china and many other languages. This aspect is find it's influence on this weblog, which publishing only on english, russia and uzbek languages.

References:

1) http://ru.kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/?page_id=2
2)http://pressing.wordpress.com/
3)http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2006/10/05/voices-from-kazakhstan-5/#more-15958

2006-11-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

Weblogs changes the world.

Weblogs has already play the importnat role and became the part of Mass Media. Only in Technorati there are 50 million blogs and evetyday this number is increasing.Some of searching blogs (blogstats.de, daypop.com) temporarily were closed because they are not able to cope with a task and service all people.

Censorship in Internet is the international problem

I have read one article of Julien Pen, who is from organization of "reports without limit". He considered this point not optimisricly. As he considered 5 yaers ago the worst situation on freedom of speech were in Asia (China and Vietnam). But nowadays the censorship in Internet became the sharpest problem. In the future, as he told, a lot of dictators and governments will be trying to control and influence on Internet.

And the main role of Weblogs in mass media is that it gives chance and opportunity to speak, because they have not another chance to express an opinion. And the weblogs dive opportunity to people who live in countries in which it is very dangerous to share with thier views. And at the end Pen told: "I believe that the weblogs all over the world will change mass media."

2006-11-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

What is news?

At the lesson of International Journalism we touched one topic that forced me to think about what will the "news" and is only all new and fresh things will be "news?".
So, everyday we face to some happenes in schools, universities, works, may be in transport, at streets, and will be it interesting to all people. Ofcourse you will come to home and tell about everything to relatives, or phone to friends, but it will be interesting only for them. How about fact that you read in The Internet; looking at the title, you will choose whether it attracts you or not.
One day, while going to home, I was the witness of unpleasant situation. The bus was full of people and at the beging there was two girls who were sitting. Few minutes later the aged women entered into transport. No one give place to her and she began to curse plus use bad language, at this time girls sat as nothing was happened. Women didn't stop and offend and insult them, even when girls leave the bus she hitted them, and little battle began.
So this story is fresh, but happend everyday, and if it will be published in the newspaper, nobody will be read it, as about accident on the road.
Journalists everyday faced to problem where find news. And it very hard to choose will be it readble and interesting.
And how about new that was in the past and should we returned to it again. The bright examle is terract in US, this year where 5 anniversary and I published some article in me blog. People in differrent way considered this story. 5 years ago everything where differ than nowadays. For example attitude to Arabian coumtries, to president of USA and so on. So in different situations we should come back to past events.
Another topic is differnent spheres of live. Some people like sport, others politics.... So there different types of journalists. Not in every newspaper will be written about entertainments or fashion. May be I'm not right, but in this types of newspapers or journals much more easier to find news, and decide whether it news or not.
Every person have own opinion and I can't tell about is there truth and right answer, but our lives is news and we can make it interesting with many adventures. So take care and be happyyyyy

2006-10-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

New Information Technologies

Nowadays people cannot imagine life without technologies, however not many years ago there wasn't any sourse of information, or sourse of connection. Today people never think about what will be without technologies, but why humans need it, may be because they have got into the habit of doing things very fast and rapidly. One scientist from Japan told, that in 50 years people wouldn't do anything, because of inventions, everything will be done by robots. Who knows, we can only guess.
Everything in our world comes from information. Even great philosophers told, that who knows infomation, they have the world. And the greatest achievment of human's is computer, ofcourse there are a lot of other types such television, radio and all of technics, but this are the types of information systems.

The big companise, universities all over the world compete in devising new technologies. In the year 2002 the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology started the "Priority Assistance for the Formation of Worldwide Renowned Centers of Research - The 21st Century Center of Excellence Program". This program were based on the competitive principle that selection for support by the program relies on third party evaluation, and by giving priority support to the formation of world-class centers of research it aims to promote the creation of internationally competitive universities that answer to the world's highest standards. And ofcourse huge changes from technologies were in journalism, people could get information throuth INTERNET, television, and etc. Nowadays it is much more easier to get knowlerge from Internet, however it has negative influence on children, such as they became lazy and get information only through computer. But everyday inventions changes and may be in future there will not be schools like we have nowadays.

References:

(http://www-nishio.ist.osaka-u.ac.jp/COE/english/index.html)

2006-10-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

Kazakhstan and NATO: cooperation strengthening
This week Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Kassymzhomart Tokayev visited Brussels. There he met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoope Sheffer and participated in sitting of NATO council. The sides discussed the strengthening of cooperation of Kazakhstan and NATO and perspectives opf joint efforts on counteraction to terrorism, extremism and drugs trade. One of most important directions of cooperation is help of NATO in large-scale reconstruction of Armed Forces of Kazakhstan and development of peacekeeping potential of our state. NATO ambassadors highly valued economic and political reforms that are conducted in our country and named Kazakhstan as “security exporter” in the region. In Brussels Tokayev met with Javier Solana, European Union foreign policy chief, General Secratery of EU council and Benita Ferrero-Valdnder, EU commissioner on foreign relations and European policy of neighborhood. Kassymzhomart Tokayev suggested to conduct regular consultations to increase cooperation level of Kazakhstan due to European policy of neighborhood.

2006-10-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

My comments to Ainel~~
Her article about KIMEP's accident.
I wrote the same work as Ainel did, and we had different opinion's, however I'd like her analisys. And I know that she will be great journalist.

2006-10-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

When Journalism Becomes "Terrorism

By Richard Ryan

Senior Pentagon adviser Richard Perle abruptly announced his resignation on March 27 as chair of the Defense Policy Board, an influential Pentagon advisory panel. Not coincidentally, Perle had shortly before his resignation described the respected journalist Seymour Hersh as a "terrorist," and threatened to sue Hersh for libel in Britain. Pulitzer-winner Hersh’s report in the New Yorker (dated 3/17/03) on Perle’s messy finances became the first of a series of embarrassing stories that threatened Perle’s considerable access to power. It now looks as though Perle, frequently described as the chief architect of the war in Iraq, launched his counter-attack on Hersh as part of a "hide-in-plain-sight" strategy--dodging scrutiny, not the spotlight--in a calculated spin campaign. Notwithstanding his resignation as the board's chair, Perle’s strategy may have worked. Despite first-rate investigative reporting by both Hersh and the New York Times, Perle is as well-connected to Washington’s power elite as ever. If Perle makes it through his current difficulties, it will largely due to the general compliance of the mainstream media with his attempts to squelch investigation of his business dealings.Hersh's story detailed a meeting that Perle admits he had with notorious Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, and another Saudi businessman, in January 2003. Khashoggi and other sources suggest in the story that Perle's goal was raising money for Trireme, his venture capital firm that backs military-related enterprises. Hersh’s sources insisted that Perle and his colleagues in Trireme left the clear impression that, in return for Saudi financial backing, Perle would use his official Pentagon connections to influence DOD policy in the Saudis' favor. As the chair of the Defense Policy Board, Perle was indeed well-placed to broker influence in the military establishment. The board, which consists primarily of well-connected former government officials like Newt Gingrich and Dan Quayle (Perle was himself an assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration), exists in that twilight realm that allows ex-bureaucrats to continue to exert influence on their former colleagues. Though not officially part of the civil service, members of the Defense Policy Board are expected to abide by the same code of ethical conduct that governs all federal employees, which prohibits using official positions for personal gain.

2006-10-06T00:23:00.000-07:00

Journalism in Kazakhstan

Ethics…The most important and valuable thing in our life is ethics, which depends from different factors, such as social surroundings, priorities and so on. Ethics follow us everywhere, so the question is should we follow it? Journalists all over the world faced ethical problems everyday and every time. And my research topic is whether journalists in Kazakhstan follow ethical issues and have the press pressure or dependence from government.
Before people became journalist they chose whether follow ethical issues or not and nowadays the problem is that only minority chose right decision. In Kazakhstan press first what young journalist think is how to get money. First trouble is taking bribes and money for writing an article, which do not satisfy the requirements of ethics. Interviewing workers of “Огни Алатау ”newspapers they do not even try to make no secret of the fact of taking money from business companies and sometimes from government staff. For the question why journalists allows themselves to break the law, there were a lot of answers, like “Our salary do not suit us” or “Every body make such things” and a lot of saying which are showing displeasure of their works. So, another issue arises, what was the reason of choosing this profession? As one famous philosopher said that never blame others, first of all look at yourself.
Second problem is that press in Kazakhstan depend from government, even if there are such kinds of newspapers, which are opposition, which is not good too. The problem of those newspapers is that objectivity, that the main point of ethics is absent. So, the main press all time and fully support Kazakhstan government. As one reporter told, “We do not want to loose our job, thus it is our responsibility to write as administration want ”. And there was survey which shows that the most dangerous topic that journalists afraid to concern is politics. What journalists should do, during all life to keep mum or to struggle for freedom? And all workers understand that one could not do anything alone.
One more thing that press has dependence not only from government, but also from big companies, which could only call and journalists will publish everything what they want, of course, again for money. But fortunately, by degrees press began to release from pressure of business. It is really need a time to become free from different spheres.
The journalists all over the world have a set of rules or ethics, which they should follow. In Kazakhstan press there are different opinions, which depend from in what newspaper or channel person works. For instant, reporter from newspaper “Эксклюзив” Naidenova Lidiya told that there is no limit for their articles; they could write what ever wants. When in “Казахстанская Правда” strict rules, and not every article will be published without editor’s approval. The same situation is at television stations. But at the radio stations were mention that reporters are very lazy, all information, news, fact they get from the Internet, so at every radio you can hear the same information. And there are no differences between radio, the same program and news. “People in any case will listen radio stations, they even do not cares about what wireless to put on”.
In summary, majority of Kazakhstan journalist are satisfied with their works, despite of problems, which they faces. A lot of them try to follow ethical issues and be independent. The Kazakhstan press in the solving and improving way, because Kazakhstan is young developing country and it need more time to get to world standards.

2006-10-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

The online journalism challenge: speed vs. accuracy vs. both
The joys of live television! This week, the BBC and CNN aired two tremendous gaffes. The Beeb interviewed the wrong man, about a lawsuit against Apple Computer while CNN panned to President Bush too early while he was rehearsing the speech he was about to give live (both videos on start-up citizen video site YouTube which is quickly blowing the competition away). Although it was live TV, this could be a warning to newspaper journalists and editors who are increasingly pressured to put information online as soon as it breaks.
If it's so easy to get things wrong when they're done quickly, is it worth risking posting information before it is confirmed? There is the argument that readers will correct you. But what if one reader scans the false information, doesn't check up on the aftermath, and posts the rehashed false info on his blog for all to read? Those who read it will thus be misinformed.

If their journalists increasingly function in this way without the proper factchecking and editing, won't newspapers lose readers? They understand that everyone makes mistakes. But isn't it important to get the facts straight for the audience. Isn't that the job of a newspaper?

Just take the BBC's screw up. On Saturday May 13, The Guardian, as well as several other publications posted on their websites that the man who had been mistakenly interviewed, Guy Goma, was a cab driver. On May 15, Reuters posted the same story on its website.

But the following day, Reuters came out with the real story. Goma is a data cleansing expert and was at the BBC for a job interview. "The mixup is being blamed on a young, inexperienced producer," said the Reuters video next to which was no correction on the previous day's story. The Guardian's article also does not have a correction.

Now look back to the original version of this article. It was entitled, "A little humor: television bloopers" and was supposed to just add a little levity to our day and question the speed with which people post on the Internet. Apart from a small modification in the introductory paragraph, the first three paragraphs that you just read were in the first version I posted.

But then I remembered when I had first read the article, I had read Goma was an IT man (I obviously found the story late). When I went back to find the story, I only read that he was a taxi driver. Confused, but confident Goma was a cabbie because I had read it on a few sources, I posted. Then, after 5 more minutes of research, I found the Reuters article I had originally read telling Goma's real specialties and immediately rewrote this posting.

So once again, is it more important to post and correct yourself after, or get it right the first time? Can speed and accuracy be combined on the Internet or are we on the brink of a new "journalism" sprinkled with asterisked corrections?

2006-09-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

Online journalism as market-driven journalism.
by Elisia L. Cohen
Beginning in the mid 1990s, the news media latched onto the ability of the World Wide Web (WWW) to illustrate news stories once left to magazines, newspapers, and television news programs. News organizations and television networks built virtual newsstands carrying up-to-the-minute headlines (Lasica, 1996). Given this move toward online news production, how does the medium that enables interactive and flexible text change the way news producers disseminate information, initiate discourse to cultivate a readership, and satisfy commercial interests? Traditionally, news media have operated with a logic that treats news as a commodity that sutures audiences with established content and known sets of producers (e.g., Alger, 1998; Anderson, 1995; McChesney, 1997; Webster & Phalen, 1997). The extent to which this logic will transfer to online journalism is uncertain. Additional theorizing on patterns of news production and reproduction is important as changes in audience consumption and viewing patterns alter the news environment.
In his book, Market-Driven Journalism, John McManus (1994) predicted that technology would significantly alter the news environment and the news values journalists bring to new media. McManus maintained that the development of new media would continue to change the way information flows from information producers to consumers. Part of the technological change McManus describes has been realized in the convergence of print and broadcasting technology and advances in digital and interactive media.
The development of new communication technology vis-a-vis the Internet affords scholars the opportunity to again consider how new media will influence the ethos of professional journalism. In order to address this concern, I explore tenets of market-driven journalism to illustrate how theories of market competition and journalism production fare in the commercial environment of the WWW. By examining structural qualities of the WWW, McManus' explanation of market-driven journalism is reconsidered in light of how new technologies are being used for producing and delivering news. In the case of the WWW, it is my argument that tensions between traditional news values of print and broadcast journalism and market values become more apparent. I conclude by considering how these tensions can be reconciled with the pressures of online publishing, and I identify areas for future research.
Tenets of Market-Driven Journalism
In McManus' (1994) account of market-driven journalism, viewers and readers are transformed into customers, news into products,...

2006-09-11T00:47:00.000-07:00

11 Of September
Walk honors Pentagon fallen
Thousands of somber marchers moved through historic Washington and across the Potomac River last evening to the Pentagon, where 184 died five years ago today when terrorists crashed a hijacked airliner into the nation's military headquarters. Shortly after sunset, 184 beams of light were projected into the clear, dark sky above the Pentagon. The lights will stay on through tonight. "When you're with people who went through the same thing you did, it's very cathartic," said Danielle Lamana, 32, of Louisiana, whose brother, Navy Lt. Michael "Scott" Lamana, was killed at the Pentagon, where he was a briefer for the chief of naval operations. "You cannot say thanks enough to the people," she said. "We remember him every day, but when other people memorialize him in some way or another, it makes you feel good." A flight officer from Baton Rouge, La., Lt. Lamana was working his usual job as a briefer for the chief of naval operations when the terrorists struck. The second annual event, called the America Supports You Freedom Walk, was led by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Marchers gathered in the afternoon at the Washington Monument, where a military chaplain led them in prayer. "I am proud to represent 2.4 million servicemen and women," Gen. Pace said. "We are here to tell the terrorists: 'Not on our watch.' " Among those joining the general were students from three D.C. schools -- Ketcham Elementary, Bertie Backus Middle and Leckie Elementary -- that lost classmates and teachers aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when hijackers crashed it into the southwest side of the Pentagon. "It is so important for us not to forget the impact that this had on our school community," Leckie Principal Clementine Homesley said. "This walk has been a wonderful experience." Of the dead, 59 were on the jetliner and 125 were in the Pentagon. "When you organize an event that brings together 15,000 people, that says we will not forget," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense.