Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Embedded journalism" refers to the practice of journalists being attached to military units during armed conflicts. The question asks when this practice became a significant and defining feature of war reporting.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
While journalists have accompanied armies in various wars throughout history, the formal, large-scale, and systematically organized practice of "embedding" is most famously associated with a specific conflict.
Vietnam War: Journalists had significant access, but the reporting was largely independent, not formally "embedded." This independent reporting is often credited with shifting public opinion against the war.
Persian Gulf War I (1990-91): Media access was heavily restricted by the military, leading to criticism from news organizations. Reporting was often done through controlled press pools and briefings.
Gulf War 2003 (Invasion of Iraq): This conflict is considered the turning point for embedded journalism. The U.S. military launched a major initiative to formally embed hundreds of journalists within combat units. This was a direct response to the access limitations of the first Gulf War. The term "embedded journalism" became widely used during this time.
Kargil War (1999): While there was media coverage from the front lines, it did not feature the large-scale, formalized embedding program that characterized the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The practice of embedding journalists with the military became a turning point and a widely recognized strategy during the Gulf War 2003.