Regulation of the international legal status of journalists during the war

Abstract

The article highlights the problems of the legal status of journalists and their protection during the war on the basis of international legal acts. Attention is focused on the norms of the Geneva Convention of 1949 and its Additional Protocols, which regulate the status of journalists during armed conflicts. Attention is focused on the fact that it is necessary to distinguish two categories of journalists: war correspondents and independent journalists, which are considered separately, and war correspondents are protected by the armed forces, and independent journalists do not have such special protection. It is noted that international humanitarian law considers journalists working in areas of armed conflict as civilians subject to the protection by Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. Deficiencies in the protection of journalists in the context of considering them as ordinary civilians are pointed out. The possibility of creating a single special international legal act is being considered, which will determine the legal status of journalists during their stay in combat zones, taking into account their important mission of conveying true information to society and the functions they perform at the same time. Attention is focused on the need to identify journalists, provide assistance and protection by states, ensure free movement of journalists and respect the confidentiality of their sources. The importance of investigating cases of violence or deaths of journalists was emphasized.