Major US news organisations are refusing to sign new Pentagon media guidelines, which they claim are designed to stifle independent reporting. The updated policy, released by the Trump administration, requires journalists to acknowledge rules that critics say could limit their ability to gather information from Pentagon employees.
The Pentagon Press Association said on Wednesday that while the department had dropped a requirement for reporters to express agreement with the policy, the revised version still prohibits the 'solicitation' of non-public information from staff. Journalists fear this could prevent them from seeking tips or conducting legitimate inquiries about the agency.
Gabe Rottman of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said the changes do not go far enough and will pose 'a significant impediment' for journalists deciding whether to sign. PEN America also called on the Pentagon to revisit the policy, arguing that national security is strengthened when journalists can investigate without fear.
Most news organisations have not disclosed their plans ahead of next week's deadline, though CNN has said it will not sign. The New York Times and The Atlantic have expressed ongoing concerns. Pentagon spokespeople defended the rules, with chief spokesperson Sean Parnell stating that access is a 'privilege, not a right' and denying that journalists will be forced to clear stories before publication.
