washington pentagon friday update law war manual previous version come fire appear allow commanders treat journalists belligerents spy u.s. department defense manual first comprehensive kind first release last june compare task journalism spy hostile action enemy manual say journalists may consider unprivileged belligerents legal category few protections combatants prisoner-of-war status report military operations similar collect intelligence even spy one passage manual say press freedom advocate say manual word blur line journalists combatants give commanders authority detain reporters without charge also warn would erode u.s. credibility abroad time journalists target governments militant group sixty-nine journalists kill work 2015 accord committee protect journalists 61 2014 2015 199 journalists detain worldwide compare 221 2014. manual release last year news organizations include reuters meet pentagon officials protest language ask change revise manual provide great detail legitimate purpose journalists serve make clear journalists right civilians press freedom group include cpj reporters without border praise revisions advocate say new manual acknowledge journalists right interview enemy combatants place onus commanders discern action reporters combatants major change say frank smyth cpj affirm right practice open independent report battlefield pentagon eliminate passages compare report spy hostile act give specific examples act report could result loss civilian status journalists could still consider unprivileged belligerents manual state member non-state arm group carry propaganda media activities journalists could also lose civilian status certain case relay target coordinate artillery strike oppose force manual say new manual also eliminate language call journalists seek permission relevant authorities work avoid mistake spy passage draw criticism set unrealistic standard war report frontlines shift quickly cover conflict libya syria instance reporters often cross border illegally pentagon officials also say would will revise manual need department mission defend freedoms journalists exercise pentagon top lawyer jennifer connor say statement learn lot process department manual good experience pentagon revise law war manual criticism press treatment