The president of the Society of Professional Journalists, John Ensslin, has expressed his sorrow over the recent journalist deaths in Syria.

He did so on his SPJ blog, Freedom of the Prez, to which the International Journalism Committee is pleased to provide this link.

David Carr of The New York Times has taken an interesting look at what happens when journalists are the ones targeted in a war zone.

“The last thing wanted by lawless regimes who govern through might is transparency and the free flow of information,” he wrote in Thursday’s (2/23) Media Decoder column. “Journalists, in this context, are no longer neutrals, but targets unto themselves.”

Carr says Syria is dangerous — and much thought should go into any decision to go there — but journalists are a vital component in explaining what is happening and providing appropriate context.

“The video coming out of Syria is important, but without the lens of journalism, it is not sufficient,” he wrote. “War requires witness that goes beyond clicking on a YouTube video.”

Follow stories about journalism from across the globe on Twitter at @SPJ_IJC

Two journalists were killed Feb. 22 when Syrian forces shelled the city of Homs.

Marie Colvin was an American war correspondent, and Remi Ochlik was a French photojournalist.

This particular report comes from MSNBC, but news outlets across the world began reporting their deaths early this morning.

SPJ’s International Journalism Committee expresses its condolences to Colvin’s and Ochlik’s families and colleagues.

Ecuador’s highest court has upheld a $40 million libel verdict against the three owners and an employee of El Universo, one of the country’s largest daily newspapers.

President Rafael Correa sued the newspaper over some of its criticism of him. The court also upheld the three-year prison sentences against the men.

Human rights and free expression groups across the world have condemned the decision.

The Society of Professional Journalists’ International Journalism Committee wishes to expresses its sadness over the loss of Anthony Shadid yesterday (2/16) while he was on assignment in Syria.

The Washington Post describes Shadid as one of the most incisive and honored foreign correspondents of his generation.

The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner was working for the New York Times when he apparently suffered a fatal asthma attack. He was 43.