After watching the video that led to Assange's arrest, I could not understand why this would be an issue. When I heard that two Reuters reporters were killed, I understood that it was somehow an ethical issue that was being questioned. 

But I didn't see any press vests or armbands. How could they be recognized as reporters? 

A Japanese war photographer said that holding a camera could be misinterpreted as carrying a gun, and that he could be shot. This is especially true with a telephoto camera or a shoulder-mounted video camera.