My 12-year old daughter was wondering why the reporter was getting in there and helping on one of the segments we were watching. (Repeat stuff and trying to mute or change channels if things get too graphic).
I told her that is a hard one for me too sometimes. I told her though that that is their job, to get the news out. And in turn that gives people like us an idea of what is going on, and we can direct some money and our prayers to these poor folks down in Haiti. And I have heard of a few cases where they have pitched in a little bit to help (a granola bar to a little girl, some water, a helping hand, etc.).
I see it as each of us has our part. They trained to be reporters. Navy medics trained to give medical treatment. Engineers trained to build and move things and so on.
The pilots just fly in and out most of the time and don't have to get dirty or go down dangerous streets and we don't expect them to. It might seem easier to say we could do without the reporters but not the pilots. But if this story didn't generate a lot of empathy in a lot of couch potatoes there wouldn't be much economic or political capital to keep those planes flying in.