PDN has published an article about the US military in Afghanistan changing its media embed rules to ban pictures of troops being killed at war. Originally a document was released 23 July that stated the ‘media will not be prohibited from covering casualties’ as long as a series of conditions are met.
It now states: ‘media will not be allowed to photograph or record video of U.S personnel killed in action’. According to a military spokesman this is more ‘ a clarification rather than a rule’.
The change supposedly occurred on 04 September, following the release and distribution by the Associated Press of an image of a mortally wounded Marine in Afghanistan. The image that was taken on 14 August by AP photographer Julie Jacobson, was released as part of a series about the death of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard. Both U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Bernard’s family had asked the AP not to release the photo.
