Reporters and Danger.

One thing I do not understand is why reporters think they should get a pass from the danger when covering dangerous events.

For example if they are covering the situation in Iraq and if they go where the stories are then they need to understand there is inherent danger. The terrorists do not respect their status as journalists unless they actively cooperating with them and even then it is a risk (Sgrena the Italian commie journalist thought her sympathy with the terrorists would protect her from kidnap).

If journalism is as important as journalists claim it to be (and I am in general agreement not whole agreement with that statement) then it IS going to be dangerous work. Criminals and bad guys do not want the light shone onto their activities and as a flashlight a good journalist is working against those interests.