Sometimes journalists need to give up their positions on the sidelines and intervene in events they're covering. The difficulty is knowing when. Photojournalist Ross Baughman says that if you're on the job, there's no quandary. You shoot the picture, of course. Although I'm queasy about how the theory plays out in extreme circumstances, I think Baughman is right.
Society needs one profession charged with documenting reality.
If we're going to do a good job of governing ourselves, we need representations that are neither hidden in shadows nor painted by hype. Journalists can't provide that without the special privilege of watching life's drama from the sidelines. They can't provide that without the special obligation to stay out of life's way. Sometimes journalists should come to the aid of an individual, but in general, they should put their duty to document first, even if someone is hurt or killed. And, not only should journalists be free from prosecution when they witness crimes, they should be praised for their willingness to put their own physical and psychic safety aside to provide a look at the underbelly of life.