Journalists cannot do their job if they suddenly become activists and participate in the stories that they are reporting. Part of the power dynamic of a free press is that it is recognized by those in power that journalists report the news, not enforce anything contained in the news. The second that journalists begin to actively interfere in the stories they are reporting, they lose access forever. It's one of those difficult areas of their discipline that people on the outside find easy to critique because they're not personally involved in the day to day activities that journalists do.

When you read a story of a country killing a bunch of journalists, you've seen the response that happens when leaders begin to believe that journalists are acting in a specific behavior pattern that goes against the unwritten agreement between nations and reporters. This is why organizations like the New York Times will work so hard to stand behind ethical standards that may not personally benefit them, but in the end might save the life of a journalist in a very bad situation one day.

It's so easy to stand on the side lines and complain about journalists not doing anything, but if it wasn't for that journalist, you wouldn't even know the problem exists.