A more thorough explanation:

War correspondents are journalists who report on events related to armed conflicts or wars. They are authorized by the armed forces and work under their protection in the locations of their operations. Their primary mission is to provide information on the war and report on events related to the hostilities.

War correspondents are protected under international humanitarian law and are considered civilians under Article 79 of the Second Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. They enjoy specific protections in addition to the common guarantees afforded by Article 75 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, such as protection against assault, murder, torture, abuse, etc.

For example, during the Vietnam War, journalists like Walter Cronkite and Morley Safer reported on the war and its impact on civilians. They provided firsthand accounts of the fighting and the conditions in which soldiers and civilians lived. Their reporting helped shape public opinion about the war and influenced government policy.

War correspondents also enjoy additional protections mentioned in Article 79(2) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. This provision grants specific protections to war correspondents in case of detention or arrest. Under this provision, war correspondents are specifically mentioned in the Third Geneva Convention and are protected by prisoner of war (POW) status as persons accompanying the military.

In summary, war correspondents are journalists who report on events related to armed conflicts or wars. They are authorized by the armed forces and work under their protection. They enjoy specific protections under international humanitarian law and are considered civilians. Their reporting provides valuable information to the public and helps shape public opinion about the war.