Students filed into the dimly lit multi-purpose room to witness a panel discussion with several top journalists discussing “Journalist in Harm’s Way.”

Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) hosted the event on Feb. 21 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, commonly known as Danny, by Islamic extremists in Karachi, Pakistan.

Students and staff were captivated by the journalists who spoke of the dangers that come with working in the line of duty in an area of conflict.

“You want people to know,” said Alexandra Zavis, a panelist and Los Angeles Times reporter who has served as a foreign correspondent in Africa and the Middle East. “You don’t want to people to die in silence.”

The panelists for the event were Rick Loomis, Los Angeles Times photojournalist, Jonathan Friedland, Chief of Communications at Netflix and a former colleague of Pearl, Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times reporter for 41 years and Zavis.

The event started with a slide show of personal home videos and pictures of Pearl, capturing moments of his wedding, childhood and family events. DPMHS’ choir then gave a performance. 

“They sang amazingly and sounded as good as any professional choir,” said freshman Boa Pistol-Boesch. “The song really fit for the occasion.”

The choir practiced and perfected the Irish folk ballad “Danny Boy” for months before delivering the unprecedented performance.

Loomis, who photographed many assignments in Afghanistan, Haiti and Israel, subsequently displayed many of his photos in the slide show “Images of Conflict.”

“We’re the eyes. Not everyone can be there and we’re concerned about what happens,” Loomis said. “We want to share the important things that happen.”

With Loomis’ slide show in the background, moderator Rob Eshman Publisher and Editor-in Chief of Tribe Media Corporation and publisher of The Jewish Journal, began a question and answer session with the four panelists

“This is a wonderful profession where you start learning day one, and you never stop learning more,” said Smith, who has made five trips to Iraq for reporting assignments.

After Eshman asked and discussed several questions, they opened it up to the student audience to ask their own questions.

“I hope this event inspires (the students),” said Principal Janet Kiddoo. “There is still a critical need for ethnical and talented journalists everywhere.”

After the Q&A session, Ruth and Judea Pearl, Daniel Pearl’s parents, took to the stage and had a word with the students about the significance of the event.

“(Students) have to go in with open eyes,” Ruth Pearl said. “They have to know what the job entails.”  

Since not all of the school’s students could fit in the MPR for the event, teachers held a teach-in in their classrooms to give students a chance to learn more about  Pearl and his legacy.

Some students watched “A Mighty Heart,” a movie starring Angelina Jolie who plays Mariane Pearl, Pearl’s wife.  In the film, Jolie embarks on a desperate journey to find her husband when he goes missing in Pakistan.  Other students read articles about Pearl.

Whether it was learning from a movies, panel discussion or lecture, students, staff and teachers were exposed to Pearl in a new and different way.

“What I learned from this conference is journalism is like music,” said music teacher Jackie Gorski. “It’s all about human connection. It’s about connecting what’s in your heart with the hearts of others. And that’s what Daniel Pearl is all about.”