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After dozens of veteran journalists rejected the Defense Department restrictive new press policyAnd They were handed media badges this weekThe only journalists with credentials to enter the Pentagon were a mix of freelancers, foreign media members, and employees of MAGA-boosting outlets.
In view of this, dozens of print and broadcast journalists walked out of the Pentagon on Wednesday. Almost every American news organization Trump-friendly networks — including Fox News and Newsmax — are refusing to comply with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s media restrictions.
Among the new rules set out in Hegseth 21 page policyWhat he gave accredited journalists until Tuesday evening to acknowledge was a ban on journalists seeking any information – classified or otherwise – from government employees without prior permission from the Pentagon.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents about 100 journalists, blasted “Unprecedented message of intimidation” Delivered by policy, the department was urged to reverse its attack on freedom of the press.
“Our members did nothing to create this troubling situation. It resulted from a completely unilateral move by Pentagon officials that clearly intended to shield the American public from information they do not control and do not pre-approve,” said the group, which represents members of 57 domestic and international news outlets. said this weekNot all accredited journalists at the Pentagon are represented by the association.
By Thursday it became clear who was left in the halls of the Pentagon. an internal government document, First received by Washington PostIt was revealed that out of hundreds of eminent journalists, only 15 had signed the new press pledge.
Two of those signatories are the pro-Trump cable channel, One America News; is from a right wing website federalistAnd the other is from an ultra-conservative newspaper The Epoch Times.
The remaining 11 journalists include freelancers from foreign-based organizations and some little-known independent sites that publish their work only on social media.
“A reporter for a Turkish newspaper Evening Signed the agreement, as did three individuals from the Turkish government-run Anadolu Agency and two Turkish freelancers Post Informed. “Other signatories included a reporter australianAustralian newspaper owned by News Corp; An Afghan freelancer; and three lesser-known operations, awps news, india globe and a blog called USA Journal Korea.,
Additionally, two members of the Jordanian TV network Al Taghire signed on. old version of policywhich was finished and revised Amid negotiations and protests from the Pentagon Press Association and other press advocacy groups.
Before a bunch of defense journalists symbolically walked out of the Pentagon Wednesday afternoon after handing in their badges and clearing their desks, only one media outlet had publicly agreed to the restrictive pledge — One America News,
Although these outlets did not immediately respond to requests for comment Independent Or PostSome have made public comments to defend and justify the policy.
Earlier this week, One America News president Charles Herring said in a statement that “after a thorough review of the revised press policy by our counsel, OAN staff have signed off on the document.” Social media-focused Christina Anderson awps newsMeanwhile, she said that “as I walk into the Pentagon correspondent’s space today, there is a sense of deep loss.”
federalist CEO Sean Davis, and Editor-in-Chief Molly Hemingway, Posted a long and bombastic statement on Claiming that he has reviewed the Pentagon’s press rules and found “zero new restrictions” for journalists covering the department. Additionally, conservative pundits criticized the mass media for rejecting the policy.
The statement read, “Where were these self-proclaimed First Amendment defenders when we were illegally censored and targeted for exposing the lies and fraud of the Deep State? Many of them not only refused to defend us, but applauded the illegal censorship efforts against us.” For example, “NBC News colluded with Big Tech to demonetize and remove us from the platform for criticizing the government and corrupt corporate news media.”
except editing federalistHemingway is also a paid contributor to Fox News – which Other broadcast news networks joined In refuting the Pentagon’s sanctions and refusing to sign the pledge.
“Today, we join nearly every other news organization in refusing to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements that will restrict journalists’ ability to keep the country and the world informed about critical national security issues,” the joint statement said. “This policy is without precedent and puts core journalistic safety at risk. We will continue to cover the U.S. military while upholding the principles of a free and independent press as each of our organizations has done for decades.”
Newsmax, another MAGA-friendly network largely aligned with the Trump administration, also rejected the policy — in keeping with its requirements. “Unnecessary and difficult” Urging the Pentagon to further review the matter.
Hegseth and President Donald Trump both stand firm restrictive media rulesPentagon spokesman Sean Parnell tweeted jokingly That “the self-righteous media decided to self-exile from the Pentagon” and that they “will not be missed.”
He also teased some additional news about the reporters who will be covering the department going forward.
“The War Department will soon make an announcement regarding the next generation of the Pentagon Press Corps,” he wrote. “Stay tuned. The best is yet to come!”