Almost.

This is coolbert:

"'The commander in the field must never forget that it is his duty to cooperate with the heads of his government in the task of maintaining a civilian morale that will be equal to every purpose.' The principal agency to accomplish that task, the general said, was the press." - - D.D. Eisenhower.

From that prior blog entry:

"Journalists in the European Theatre of Operations [ETO] had the official status of an officer with appropriate respect being given by all parties."

Let me elaborate!

"the press is a vital channel of communication within Clausewitz's trinity of government, the army, and the people. The scribblers squirt grease into that machinery to help make it go. On the negative side, the scribblers can also throw sand into the machinery"

That "trinity" of "government, the army, and the people" having to be maintained with a favorable equilibrium, the press in all forms making a vital contribution ESPECIALLY IN NATIONS THAT ARE DEMOCRATIC AND HAVE A FREE PRESS!!

Eisenhower describing the reporter, journalist and war photographer as a "quasi" staff officer. ALMOST!

From the book: "The military and the press: an uneasy truce by Michael S. Sweeney." this chapter:

"THE JOURNALIST AS 'QUASI' OFFICER"

"The status of press members as 'quasi" officers, at leas tin Eisenhower's estimation, mirrored their indefinite place in the bureaucracy of war. They were not exactly soldiers, not exactly civilians . . . Accreditation meant that the armed forces would feed, transport, and billet journalists with units in the war zones and relay their stories and photographs overseas . . . combat journalists wore uniforms to prevent them from being shot as spies if captured, but they had no insignia of rank. Instead they wore green armbands or patches identifying them as reporters or photographers. Journalists had the arbitrary rank of captain assigned to them to fit them into military regulations regarding transportation, shelter, and possible capture by the enemy.

This ALMOST status occurring during World War Two [WW2]. The reporter, journalist, war photographer is treated in the same manner today? I am not sure. Devoted readers to the blog have a better handle on this? Let me hear from you.

coolbert.