I see this being downvoted, but images are copyrighted. Using an image for illustrative purposes is not fair use, is it? Therefore the articles can't just share the same images.
Often it is; the paradigm would be commentary. If you're going to talk about the image, to some extent it's necessary to let people see what you're talking about. Reproducing the Mohammed cartoons ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyllands-Posten_Muhammad_carto... ) in a discussion of them would obviously be fair use.
As with most aspects of the legal system, there is no standard for what is or isn't fair use.
Might you have to defend it? Maybe. Would you win? Assuredly.
Our courts don't operate based on who is on the right side of the law. They operate based on who has more cash to burn.