Citation

Welgemoed AC. International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry 2008; 1(3): 282.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008)

DOI

10.1504/IJLSE.2008.017698

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A journalist's function is not only to inform but also to investigate. The public's right to information necessitates protection for journalists that report from dangerous war-torn regions in order to keep the world informed, but the question is: do they need special protection? Some argue that journalists should be protected in terms of humanitarian law due to their humanitarian function, their service of facilitating the free flow of information to the world and their role in society. Others argue that their protection is not the responsibility of the international community but rather their individual national governments or local news organisations.

KEYWORDS: journalist protection; war on terror; international conventions; conflict zones; war correspondents; war reporting; newsgathering; war zones; journalists; international protocols.