Dozens of journalists have decided to leave their posts at the Pentagon after disagreeing with new rules put in place by the Defense Secretary. These rules aim to bring more order to how the press operates within the building, which some leaders feel has become “very disruptive.”
The core of the issue is that the new rules would require journalists to get approval before reporting on any information, whether classified or not. News organizations almost universally rejected this, seeing it as a barrier to their ability to freely report on the military.
Many reporters left the Pentagon together, turning in their access badges as a sign of their opposition. While it’s not yet clear how these new rules will change things, news outlets have promised to continue covering the military thoroughly.
President Trump has voiced his support for the Defense Secretary’s actions, saying that he believes the press can be “very disruptive” to world peace and often “dishonest.”
The Defense Secretary has defended the new rules as “common sense,” stating that they simply require journalists to acknowledge the guidelines, not necessarily agree with them. However, many journalists see this as the same thing.
Some believe the goal is to control the information released to the press, which they argue is not true journalism. Others, like retired U.S. Army General Jack Keane, stress the importance of the media in a democracy and the need for military leaders to understand its role in informing the public.
Despite these changes, reporters have stated that they will continue to report on the U.S. military, even if they have to do it from a greater distance. They believe it is important for the American people to know what is happening, and they will find ways to get the information out.
