The deaths of Foley and Sotloff, both kidnapped by Islamic State while working as freelance reporters in Syria, prompted reporters and advocates to create voluntary guidelines for media outlets to work more safely with freelancers in conflict areas. 

More than 60 news organisations and press freedom groups have signed on, along with the Frontline Freelance Register, which represents more than 400 independent journalists. All have committed to uphold safety practices, including providing insurance, protective gear and first aid and hostile environment training. It's a positive first step -- we need journalists to report impartially from dangerous places and as a result of shrinking news budgets and changing technologies, many of those covering the conflicts in Syria and Iraq are freelancers without the resources available to staff correspondents.