It may be "entirely subjective" as to whether Press/
PR activities are a zero sum game for the RAF, but that's only one side of the equation.
The
PR and recruiting value of coverage can be set aside.
The MoD is a publicly funded organisation, paid for by tax-payers, and is an arm of our democratically elected government.
It is therefore accountable and answerable to the taxpayer, and proper, appropriate and controlled access for the media should be part of the unspoken 'contract' between those who serve and those who pay. It's also faintly grubby for the MoD to be making money from giving proper recognition to and providing simple coverage of the activities of our servicemen and women.
Whether or not journalists/publishers make money from it is irrelevant.
I would say that the present unstated policy of treating news differently from history is fundamentally flawed, too.