Dying in War and the First Amendment

The Beacon Journal, among some other newspapers, published a picture of a dying American Marine on the battlefield in Afghanistan. The Dad of the young man protested printing the photo, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pleaded with the Associated Press not print the photo because of the family's objections. The AP released the photo anyway, saying it shows the grimness of war.

What do you think? Does Freedom of the Press apply here or not?

Article on the photo



Photo is of dead soldiers from World War I