THE winning design for the UK’s first national memorial to journalists killed while reporting on conflict has been unveiled.
At an event hosted by Bloomberg, Wolfgang Buttress was announced as the artist who will create a permanent artwork at the National Memorial Arboretum.
A companion piece will also be erected at St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street.
A total of 104 entries were submitted, with the End of Copy, Words of Light design unveiled as the winner by Chris Elmore MP. It will be accompanied by an online public record chronicling the lives and work of those remembered by the memorial.
Wolfgang said:
“This memorial is about presence rather than proclamation. Journalism at its best is an act of service, often quiet, frequently risky and, in the most tragic cases, fatal.
“My ambition was to create a work that acknowledges loss while leaving space for reflection, humility and care. It is a memorial shaped as much by what is felt as what is seen.”
The design draws on two historic news correspondent signoffs – ### and -30- – which extrude from aluminium columns arranged in a Fibonacci spiral. Polished stainless steel and cast glass surfaces will also feature.
The On The Record campaign to create the memorial began in 2024 anbd has brought together families, journalists and media organisations.
Sarah Sands, chair of trustees of On The Record, said:
“This memorial to journalists covering conflicts, together with the online archive, will ensure that their names and work will not be lost to the news cycle.
“It is a lasting statement that the truth matters – and we will remember the courage and sacrifice of those who died for it.”
For families who have lost loved ones, the memorial is intended to offer recognition and solace.
Karola Zakrzewska, whose brother Pierre was killed while reporting for Fox News in Ukraine, said:
“When a journalist is killed, the story often moves on quickly, but grief doesn’t.
“On The Record matters because it says publicly and unequivocally that these lives, and this work, will not be forgotten.
“Knowing that my brother will be remembered alongside others who believed in telling the truth means more than I can easily put into words.”
The memorial is expected to be installed at the National Memorial Arboretum once fundraising and permissions are complete, while the online resource will be created and then continue to grow as families contribute stories, images and testimonies.
