Nationwide moment of silence for slain journalists

Staffers at Maryland’s Capital Gazette, where a gunman’s rampage killed five people last week, led an industry-wide, coast-to-coast moment of silence in their honor Thursday.

Seven days after an enraged madman launched his attack on the community newspaper in Annapolis, journalists commemorated the moment in quiet reflection for editorial page editor Gerald Fischman, 61; assistant editor and columnist Rob Hiaasen, 59; sportswriter John McNamara, 56; Rebecca Smith, 34, a sales assistant hired in November, and Wendi Winters, 65, a community correspondent in charge of special publications.

Journalists at the Capital Gazette, many of whom survived the deadly attack, stood at precisely 2:33 p.m. to honor their slain colleagues.

“We honor them by covering the story the way our readers expect,” said Gazette editor Rick Hutzell.

Colleagues at the Daily News’ sister paper lit five candles in their memory, and newsrooms around the world fell silent.

“The tragedy … tears at our hearts, tugs at our compassion and calls forth our fears for the safety of all those on the front lines of truth, accountability and journalistic pursuit,” the American Society of News Editors and Associated Press Media Editors said in a joint statement.

Reporters, editors and photographers at The News, which like the Capital Gazette is owned by tronc, participated in the tribute.

Shooter Jarrod Ramos, 38, was arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree murder. Officers found Ramos hiding under a desk in the newsroom with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Cops said Ramos harbored a long-simmering grudge against the paper over coverage involving a harassment charge against him.