I can't believe that people are so stubbornly trying to refute what you're saying.

Especially considering the hard-on they seem to have for railing against media/news corporations who ask photographers to use their work "free with credit".

It's the same thing. If a project is likely to turn a profit, any artist involved deserves compensation.

Not saying that artists don't do what they do because they love it, but that doesn't mean that they want to be taken advantage of for that fact. No photographer I know worth a shit is giving away work for free for self-promotion. For good causes like animal shelters, charities, and fundraisers, yes, but outside of that, absolutely not.