Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agreeing new rules (apnews.com)

Article summary

Journalists have turned in their access badges and exited the Pentagon rather than agreeing to new rules that would require them to only report on approved information. The new rules, which were updated on October 6th, allow media outlets to report on any information, even if classified, as long as they did not solicit it or were given it with the premise that it would not be released. The journalists' decision to leave the Pentagon has sparked a debate about the role of the press in holding the government accountable. The Pentagon's new rules have been seen as an attempt to control the narrative and limit the press's ability to report on sensitive information.

Main themes

• Press freedom
• Government accountability
• National security
• Journalistic integrity
• Censorship

What commenters say

• The Pentagon's new rules are an attempt to control the narrative and limit the press's ability to report on sensitive information, which is a threat to press freedom and government accountability.
• The government has the right to classify information and control what is released to the public, and the press should respect these boundaries.
• The press should have an adversarial relationship with the government, and the new rules undermine this by requiring journalists to only report on approved information.
• The updated rules from October 6th rectify some of the prior issues and allow media outlets to report on any information, even if classified, as long as they did not solicit it.
• The Pentagon's actions are a strategic play to make the institution more opaque and limit the press's ability to hold them accountable.
• The press should be able to report on any information they deem relevant, without fear of retribution or censorship, in order to hold the government accountable.
• The government and the press should have a positive relationship, but this relationship should not compromise the press's ability to report on sensitive information.
• The new rules are not a significant change, and the press is being hyperbolic in their reaction, as they are still able to report on information that is not solicited or given with the premise that it will not be released.