Freelance
March 29, 2013, in Damascus, Syria

Diab was shot by government forces while covering clashes between the rebel Free Syrian Army and Syrian government forces in the neighborhood of Al-Otaiba, according to the Saudi-based news website Al-Sharq and the Syrian Center for Human Rights.

Diab, who was known locally as "Abu al-Majid al-Ghoutani," was a videographer and reporter, who regularly filmed and reported on clashes in the Damascus suburb of Al-Ghouta al-Sharqiya. He also contributed reporting to the pro-opposition TV channel Orient News and the Free Syrian Army TV channel Suri al-Hur (The Free Syrian) and was the spokesman for the Media Office of Al-Ghouta al-Sharqiya, the Marj Branch, according to the Media Office and Shaam News Network.

Similar media centers like the Media Office for Al-Ghouta al-Sharqiya have sprung up all across Syria as citizen journalists and opposition activists document how the unrest has affected their communities. The Media Office's reporting has been used by local and regional news outlets including Al-Sharq and Orient News.

The documentation provided by citizen journalists has been crucial in the international understanding of the Syrian conflict because of extreme government restrictions and danger that prevent widespread news media coverage, according to CPJ research.

Medium:Internet
Job:Broadcast Reporter, Camera Operator
Beats Covered:Human Rights, War
Gender:Male
Local or Foreign:Local
Freelance:Yes
Type of Death:Crossfire/Combat-Related
Suspected Source of Fire:Military Officials

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