Why do they allow journalist on the battle field?

Question

i see no reason for this, it just makes one more person the miltary has to watch out for.

Answer 1

It does help to create some accountability for what our military does on battle field. Who do you trust if our military break rules or carry out some misconduct and there's no one to witness it? Or if our military does obey all the rule and someone else falsely accuse our military of some misconduct?

Answer 2

Under the current U.S. system of accredited reporters accompanying troops in combat, the goal is to generate public support for the war effort.

For an excellent review of this evolving system of press coverage from WW2 through Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Gulf War, Croatia/Bosnia and Somalia, see the link below.

This U.S. Public Broadcasting System program aired in April 2000, three years before the invasion of Iraq with embedded reporters.  So this is a good look at the system which is not tainted by political or patriotic spin of the current wars.  

In essence, the answer is the military learned the lessons of Vietnam and the press did not.

Hope this answer and the link below help you.

Answer 3

That is journalist choice. They should be free to make the report of what is happening. Otherwise, we will be ignorant of our surrounding. That is part of democracy.