Journalism organizations are praising two guilty verdicts handed down June 9 in the murder case of Chauncey Bailey, a reporter and editor for the Oakland Post who was gunned down as he walked to work on Aug. 2, 2007.

"Justice served . . ." said headlines on the websites for both Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Yusuf Bey IV, a leader of the Your Black Muslim Bakery in Oakland, was convicted of first-degree murder for sending two men to kill Bailey to prevent the journalist from publishing articles about the bakery"s internal problems and financial situation, the Oakland Tribune reports. Antoine Mackey was also convicted of first-degree murder for helping Devaughndre Broussard locate and assassinate Bailey. Broussard later testified against Bey IV and Mackey.

"It has been widely acknowledged that Bailey’s stories cost him his life, and even that the Oakland police had a responsibility for it," said Reporters Without Borders, referring to the Oakland police department"s mishandling of the investigation. “The threats against journalists on this case are not over. We urge the local authorities to guarantee a safe environment for the reporters working on corruption in the area."

Weeks after Bailey was murdered Oakland-area journalists organized The Chauncey Bailey Project, which was credited by both Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O"Malley and Assistant District Attorney Melissa Krum for playing a crucial role in the investigation. In 2008, the Project reported that the lead detective on the case ignored evidence connecting Bey IV to Bailey"s murder.

The Chauncey Bailey Project includes more than two dozen journalists from a wide range of news outlets working in conjunction with media organizations, university journalism programs, New America Media and the Maynard Institute.

The Bailey murder trial was also marred by a death threat in April against journalist Josh Richman, who was covering the trial and allegations of real estate fraud committed by suspects in the case.