The death of Calgary Herald
reporter Michelle Lang on patrol with Canadian troops in Afghanistan has
produced an outpouring of sympathy from across the Canadian journalism community
– not least because her situation inside an armoured vehicle was both blameless
and helpless.

It has also reignited debate about the
potential return on such excursions. 
Colin Perkel, currently on assignment for The Canadian Press in
Afghanistan, tackles the issue in an
opinion piece published in The Toronto Star.