Slain journalists

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/22/opinion/ghitis-journalists-syria/index.html
"What The World Owes The Slain Journalists" by Frida Ghitis

This CNN article details two journalists that were killed covering the situation in Syria. Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik were dedicated to their work, even in such turmoil, because they felt it was important that the world knew what was happening.
This article is more of a tribute than a hard news piece and Ghitis is in admiration of Colvin and Ochlik, and others like them. Most telling of her feelings, she writes, "I believe they subscribed to my own journalistic creed, that what happens everywhere, anywhere, deserves our attention. We are all citizens of the world. When a dictator massacres his people, we cannot, we should not, avert our gaze."
Ghitis writes about journalists as great altruists. She praises their courage to put themselves in the line of danger, for the greater good: "Let's remember that hundreds of reporters and photographers and producers risk their lives every day because they want us all to see the reality of what is happening in our dangerous, turbulent world. Let's remember that hundreds of them have died -- in the crossfire, in accidents, in medical emergencies away from medical facilities -- because they chose to take risk. They chose to take the risk, but they did not choose to die."
I read this piece, and I cannot help but be moved. Ghitis does not come out and use the word altruism, but that is so clearly what is being described. In this case, the journalists were the ultimate altruists. They willingly gave up their lives for the good of others.
I think it is remarkable that the journalists did that, because extreme altruism is so rare. This is not to say the journalists were pure altruists, all the time. But in their work, in this way, they were just that. Most people would not make the choice they make, particularly over and over again.
Ghitis is right in saying we ought to behave differently toward journalists. They deserve our thanks and praise for their service, similar to our military men and women. Journalists are fighting the intellectual part of our wars.