66 Journalists Gone

People in Iraq are being killed on a daily basis...hundreds. US and British soldiers die, usually in the prime of their youth, insurgents die too. So, why talk about this. In one of the Aussie papers today, i was surprised to learn 66 journalists have died in Iraq. This figure really surprised me, i thought infact it was much less. There is obviously an argument for saying the journo's know the risks they are getting into before taking a posting. The majority are not staying in plush western hotels out of the front line. Most do see the front line. Whether it be "their calling" or the offer of extra cash, as in the case of many engineers etc, the risks involved are huge.
Some of the 66 journos have been deliberately targeted. Killing journo's is a sensitive subject. Reuters have lost 4 journos in Iraq, many others have been arrested and detained, some have been killed by the US military.
There was an incedent where a cameraman was given permission by some soldiers to shoot a film. Yet US soldiers mistook his camera for a grenade launcher! The cameraman was killed.
So, do we need all these journo's there? Can we do without hearing the news from Iraq asap?
What are your thoughts?

till next time, Michelle.