A free press in 'time of war' — or at home — is not the enemy

Journalism is neither criminal activity nor the action of an enemy, at home during domestic strife or overseas in a time of war. Still, charges have been brought in Ferguson, Mo., against two journalists a year after they were detained in a McDonald's restaurant by police in the first days of violence during protests over the police shooting and death of Michael Brown. And a new, 1,176-page Department of Defense "Law of War" manual distributed in June opens the door for U.S. military commanders — and, ominously, for repressive regimes around the world — to deem reporters who operate outside of official channels and who resist censorship as "unprivileged belligerents," military-speak for spies and saboteurs. Reporters doing their jobs may be inconvenient or irritating, or witnesses on behalf of the public to activity that is later challenged as illegal, unwise or just plain embarrassing. None of that ought to be subject to official sanction, arrest or worse. via National Newspaper Association.