Serena Shim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Serena Shim
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| Born | October 10, 1985 Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | October 19, 2014 (aged 29) Suruç, Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey
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| Resting place | Bourj el-Barajneh, Lebanon |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Serena Ali Suhaim |
| Education | American University of Technology |
| Alma mater | Clarenceville High School |
| Occupation | Television journalist |
| Years active | 2007–2014 |
| Employer | Press TV |
| Children | 2 |
Serena Shim (Arabic: سيرينا علي سحيم, Serena Ali Suhaim; October 10, 1985 – October 19, 2014) was an American journalist with Lebanese roots. She worked for Press TV, an international news channel. Serena was a war correspondent, meaning she reported from dangerous areas. She was covering the Siege of Kobanê when she died in a car crash in Suruç, Turkey.
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Serena Shim's Early Life
Serena Shim was born in Michigan, USA, on October 10, 1985. She grew up in the cities of Dearborn and Livonia. Her parents were immigrants from Lebanon. After finishing Clarenceville High School, Serena moved to Lebanon. She lived in her father's hometown of Bourj el-Barajneh and studied at the American University of Technology (AUT).
Her Career as a Journalist
Serena Shim began working for Press TV in 2007 while she was still a student. She traveled to many countries to report the news, including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Turkey. In 2013, she reported on the Gezi Park protests in Turkey.
Just two days before she died, on October 17, 2014, Serena shared something important on camera for Press TV. She said that Turkish intelligence officials had accused her of being a spy. Serena also reported that she had received threats from Turkish authorities.
She explained that she was surprised by the accusation because she had only ever done her job. She also mentioned that she was worried because Reporters Without Borders had called Turkey "the largest prison for journalists." Serena had been one of the first reporters to show that militants were crossing the Turkish border. She even had pictures of them in trucks that looked like they belonged to a food aid organization. She said it was clear they were militants because of their appearance.
At the time of her death, Serena was reporting on the Siege of Kobanî, a major battle happening nearby.
Serena's Family Life
Serena Shim was married to Ibrihim Shim. They had two young children. When Serena passed away, her son was four years old and her daughter was two. Serena was the main provider for her family, while her husband stayed home to care for their children. She came from a Shia Muslim background.
Serena Shim's Death
Serena Shim died on October 19, 2014, in Suruç, Turkey. She was 29 years old. Turkish news outlets reported that she died in a car crash involving a large cement truck. They shared photos to support this report.
Serena was a passenger in a rental car driven by her 16-year-old cousin, Judy Irish. They were returning to their hotel after finishing an assignment in Suruç. Judy Irish blacked out when the car's airbags opened but did not have serious injuries, only a broken nose. She was taken to Suruç State Hospital.
In 2016, Judy Irish said that her car did not hit the truck head-on. She told Fox News that she was driving in the fast lane of a three-lane highway. She saw the semi-truck behind her in the middle lane. She said the truck sped up, cut her off, and caused her to crash into it. The truck driver, however, said that Judy's car was going very fast, lost control, entered his lane, and went under his truck.
The day after Serena's death, Press TV said that the truck driver's identity and location were unknown. However, other news reports later stated that the truck driver was arrested. An official report later said the truck driver, Şükrü Salan, was not at fault. This report claimed Judy Irish was the "sole culprit" because she entered the road junction too fast. Salan was released after being held. Later, prosecutors still sought jail time for Salan, and a trial was planned.
After an examination, Serena's body was sent to Beirut on October 22, 2014. Hundreds of people attended her funeral, and she was buried in Bourj el-Barajneh.
Reactions to Serena's Death
Many people used social media to call for a fair investigation into Serena's death. Organizations like Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists said they were looking into the case. The International Federation of Journalists included Serena Shim in their list of journalists who died accidentally in 2014.
Serena's Family's Concerns
Serena's mother, Judy Poe, said that neither the US State Department nor the Turkish government contacted her after her daughter's death. Judy Poe saw her daughter's body in a morgue and said there were "not a single mark" on her. She told Fox News that she "absolutely suspect[ed] foul play" and believed Serena's death was "no accident." Judy Poe said Serena had been afraid for her life. She thought the crash scene might have been made to look like an accident.
Serena's sister, Fatmeh Shim, also said there were no pictures of Serena inside the car after the crash. She stated, "I think my sister was assassinated." Serena's family also believed that the car shown in the crash photos was not the one Serena and Judy had rented. In 2016, Serena's family asked the United States government to investigate her death again.
Press TV's View
Hamid Reza Emadi, the news director for Press TV, said Serena's death was a sad event for anyone seeking the truth. He believed her death was "very suspect" and possibly linked to her reports about the effects of Turkish and Saudi policies on Syrian refugees. One expert on Press TV even suggested Serena had been "assassinated by the government of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan." However, Press TV did not provide proof for these ideas.
Turkey's Response
On October 20, 2014, İzzettin Küçük, the Governor of Şanlıurfa, said Press TV's claims about Serena's death were "completely baseless." He promised that a full explanation would be given after an investigation. A spokesperson for Turkey's embassy in the US also shared their sadness about Serena's death.
United States' Response
US representative John Conyers sent a letter of sympathy to Serena's family. In November 2014, the US State Department told Fox News that they do not investigate deaths in other countries. However, they said they "closely monitor" all investigations into the deaths of US citizens overseas. In 2016, a State Department official again offered condolences to Serena's family and friends.
Recognition and Awards
Serena Shim has been remembered at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
An organization called the Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees created an award named after Serena Shim. This award, called the "Serena Shim Award for Uncompromised Integrity in Journalism," honors journalists who bravely report difficult truths, especially those who are not part of mainstream media.
See also
- Maya Nasser
- Marie Colvin
- List of journalists killed in Turkey
