In a touching and inspiring segment on Tuesday’s Special Report, anchor Bret Baier narrated the story of cameraman Pierre “Zak” Zakrzewski; covering his love of journalism and how many of his colleagues and friends remember him. He was killed by Russian artillery fire outside Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. Fox News producer Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova was also killed and State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall was hospitalized in the same attack.
“As mentioned, this has been a very difficult day for the Fox News family because two of our co-workers have died in Ukraine: cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and journalist and translator Oleksandra Kuvshynova,” Baier announced. “They were working with correspondent Benjamin hall outside of Kyiv when fire hit their vehicle. Benjamin was seriously wounded and is in the hospital.”
Baier reported that Zakrzewski was a “steady presence in uncertain times” for those that knew him. His colleagues in the field “knew they were in good hands” when he was on the team “[b]ecause he could do just about anything. He shot video, fixed equipment, produced stories, and edited pieces on the fly.”
And like any good journalist, “Pierre also seemed to always know the background of every location, every story. And he had an extraordinary ability to do his work under incredible pressure and without sleep.”
Things really got heavy as Baier was sharing how Zakrzewski’s work-family remembered him. “Some of our correspondents who worked closely with him feel this loss especially hard,” Baier said:
Today, Trey Yingst posted this photo with Pierre said he was “as good as they come. Selfless, brave, passionate.” Jonathan Hunt says he has never forgotten the smile and welcome he received from Pierre in 2003 when he first arrived in Baghdad. He says Pierre made everyone a better journalist and a better person. Amy Kellogg says Pierre was warm and generous with his time and he was a rare breed of war reporter who never got jaded.
In particular, correspondent Greg Palkot’s account notes that Zakrzewski was with him during the worst fighting in Iraq and saved his life:
Greg Palkot says he and Pierre were embedded with a Marine company during Iraq's Battle of Fallujah. He says that Pierre saved his life on many occasions over the years, he adds that Pierre hated sitting around the newsroom. He wanted to be out chasing the story.
“And Greg noted that even when the worst was happening, Pierre would repeat his favorite advice to keep on smiling (…) And that obviously is a lot tougher today because we lost not only a colleague but a mentor, a leader, and a wonderful friend,” Baier lamented.
“We also send our condolences to the family of journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova,” he added. “Sasha as she’s known was just 24 years old. She was serving as a consultant, helping our teams navigate the city, gathered news, speak with sources. Our correspondents and producers say she was hard-working, funny, kind, and brave.”
National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin also had words and feelings to share as she concluded her report on the weapons going to Ukraine and a Russian journalist who protested the war on state TV. “The loss and pain we feel is enormous, but if ever there were a time when the world needed journalists, reporters risking their lives to tell these stories, to tell the truth, it's now,” she said.
Griffin grew emotional, understandably, as she declared that “[w]ithout a free press the autocrats win. We will redouble our efforts to honor these colleagues and all reporters in harm's way tonight.”
Baier likely put it best as he told Griffin: “Your feelings are our feelings, tonight.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
March 15, 2022
6:04:01 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: As mentioned, this has been a very difficult day for the Fox News family because two of our co-workers have died in Ukraine: cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and journalist and translator Oleksandra Kuvshynova. They were working with correspondent Benjamin hall outside of Kyiv when fire hit their vehicle. Benjamin was seriously wounded and is in the hospital. Pierre and Sasha did not survive.
Pierre leaves behind his wife Michelle and a loving family and a lot of colleagues who are absolutely heartbroken at the loss of a legend.
PIERRE ZAKRZEWSKI: We were just outside the refugee camp filming refugees and we could hear there was gunfire in the background.
BAIER: Pierre Zakrzewski, or Zak as many called him, has been with Fox for years in and out of war zones.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: On the run -- the gunmen are coming closer -- Pierre, grab the sticks.
BAIER: Before Ukraine, Pierre was on the ground in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Syria. He covered conflicts between countries and helped us report from the middle of riots.
Pierre was a steady presence in uncertain times. When a correspondent or producer arrived and saw Pierre waiting for them, they knew they were in good hands. Because he could do just about anything. He shot video, fixed equipment, produced stories, and edited pieces on the fly. Pierre also seemed to always know the background of every location, every story. And he had an extraordinary ability to do his work under incredible pressure and without sleep.
Some of our correspondents who worked closely with him feel this loss especially hard. Today trey Yingst posted this photo with Pierre said he was “as good as they come. Selfless, brave, passionate.” Jonathan Hunt says he has never forgotten the smile and welcome he received from Pierre in 2003 when he first arrived in Baghdad. He says Pierre made everyone a better journalist and a better person. Amy Kellogg says Pierre was warm and generous with his time and he was a rare breed of war reporter who never got jaded.
Greg Palkot says he and Pierre were embedded with a Marine company during Iraq's Battle of Fallujah. He says that Pierre saved his life on many occasions over the years, he adds that Pierre hated sitting around the newsroom. He wanted to be out chasing the story. And Greg noted that even when the worst was happening, Pierre would repeat his favorite advice to keep on smiling.
[Cuts back to live]
And that obviously is a lot tougher today because we lost not only a colleague but a mentor, a leader, and a wonderful friend. We offer our deepest condolences to all who knew Pierre and all who loved him. Pierre Zakrzewski was just 50 years old.
We also send our condolences to the family of journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova. Sasha as she’s known was just 24 years old. She was serving as a consultant, helping our teams navigate the city, gathered news, speak with sources. Our correspondents and producers say she was hard-working, funny, kind, and brave.
(…)
6:09:13 p.m. Eastern
JENNIFER GRIFFIN: And, Bret, a word about our colleagues Pierre, Sasha, and Ben Hall tonight. The loss and pain we feel is enormous, but if ever there were a time when the world needed journalists, reporters risking their lives to tell these stories, to tell the truth, it's now. Without a free press the autocrats win. We will redouble our efforts to honor these colleagues and all reporters in harm's way tonight.
BAIER: Jennifer Griffin, live at the Pentagon. Your feelings are our feelings, tonight. Jennifer, thank you.
