Photo of Mika Baumeister in Unsplash
Several major US media outlets, including Fox News, The New York Times and The Washington Post, expressed their opposition to the new press regulations issued by the Department of Defense, arguing that they represent a setback in transparency and access to public information.
The regulations, announced this week by the Pentagon, establish stricter criteria for reporters' access to military installations, press conferences, and interviews with senior officials. Among the most controversial changes are new clearance requirements, more extensive pre-reporting reviews, and restrictions on the use of unofficial sources.
"These rules set a troubling precedent for press freedom and the public's right to be informed about defense and national security issues," said a spokesperson for the Pentagon Correspondents Association (PCA).
According to the PCA, the measure could restrict independent coverage of military operations and strategic affairs by giving the Department of Defense greater control over which journalists can access information and under what conditions. Media outlets such as Fox News and Political They called the rules “unnecessarily restrictive” and “opaque.”
The Pentagon has spoken out and this is what it said:
The Pentagon, for its part, defended the new guidelines, arguing that they seek to "modernize and standardize" communications protocols in a more complex and security-sensitive global context. Officials affirmed that the goal is not to limit the press, but rather to ensure that the information disclosed does not jeopardize military operations or personnel in conflict zones.
However, press freedom advocacy organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), warned that these measures could have a chilling effect on critical and independent coverage of defense issues.
“Government transparency is not optional. It is a pillar of democracy. The Pentagon should review these rules and engage with the media to find a genuine balance between security and press freedom,” the CPJ said in a statement.
The debate comes at a particularly sensitive time, with rising international tensions and active US military operations in various regions of the world. Representatives of the media and the Pentagon are expected to meet in the coming days to discuss possible adjustments to the regulations.
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