This is a form of media manipulation by semantics. In this period of globalization, such reports feed back into a larger constituency in their home country and can dramatically affect not only the people, but also the decisions by governments and other influentials. Voting an issue up or down can be affected -either intentionally or unintentionally . Sending arms or even troops can be affected by inaccurate or biased reportage which can be intentional. When the media become part of the equation, they are no longer a protected neutral but a player.
Players can become targets along with the terrorists and rioters.
They cannot claim sanctuary and neutrality because they have chosen to act as an advocate for one side or the other. Perhaps over the years the media industry has allowed this slippage so that journalists and TV news commentators can claim they are honestly reporting events as they see them - or at least for the sensationalism demanded by their home offices. Perhaps that is why the U.S. government gathered the Media into one area during the Gulf War and provided them with 'official' press briefings. The Media was furious at being forced to report this pre-chewed news. In a smaller way we can recall Arafat's War of Terrorism in Lebanon when the Media chose to corral themselves in the Commodore Hotel in Beirut and meekly accepted the Media handouts from Arafat's brother who was in charge of information.