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dozens of journalists packed up my desks and moved out pentagon but together on wednesday Agree with the restrictions imposed by the government On their work.
Many journalists were waiting till 4 pm to reach the scheduled deadline Department of Defense To exit the building. Boxes of documents lined the Pentagon corridor as reporters moved chairs, a copy machine, books and old photographs from suddenly abandoned workplaces to the parking lot.
Shortly after 4 o’clock, about 40 to 50 journalists handed over their badges and left together.
News outlets were almost unanimous in rejecting the new rules imposed by the Secretary of Defense pete hegseth This could leave journalists facing expulsion if they seek to report on information, classified or otherwise, that has not been approved by Hegseth for release.
Requirements put pressure on journalists who cover it American military Even beyond his power. The nation’s leadership called the new rules “common sense” to help curb “too much disruptive” regulation. Press,
“It’s sad, but I’m also proud of the press corps that we stuck together,” said Nancy Youssef, a reporter for The Atlantic who has had a desk at the Pentagon since 2007. he took a map of it middle east Out to his car.
It is unclear what the practical effect of the new rules will be, although news organizations have vowed they will continue robust coverage of the military regardless of vantage point.
Images of journalists effectively demonstrating against obstacles in their work aren’t likely to impress the president’s supporters donald trumpMany of whom are angry at journalists and appreciate his efforts to make their jobs difficult. Has been involved in court battle against Trump the new York Times, CBS News, ABC NewsThe wall street journal And last year the Associated Press.
Trump supports new rules
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump endorsed the new rules from his defense secretary. “I think he views the press as very disruptive to world peace,” Trump said. “The press is very dishonest.”
Even before releasing his new press policy, Hegseth, the former Fox News Channel host, has systematically choked off the flow of information. He held only two formal press briefings, banned journalists from entering many parts of the sprawling Pentagon without escort, and launched an investigation into leaks to the media.
He has called his new rules “common sense” and said that requiring journalists to sign a document outlining the rules means they accept the new rules, not necessarily agree with them. Journalists see it as a distinction without any difference.
“What they’re really doing is they want to spoon-feed information to the reporter, and that will be their story. That’s not journalism,” said Jack Keane, a retired U.S. Army general and Fox News analyst on Hegseth’s former network.
While he served, Keane said he required new brigadier generals to take a class on the role of the media in a democracy so they would not be intimidated and would also view journalists as a medium for the American public. He said, “There were times when stories were written that made me a little nervous.” “But that’s usually because we did something that wasn’t as good as we should have done.”
Yusuf said there was no point in signing rules that said journalists should not ask for information from military officials. “Agreeing not to seek information is like agreeing not to be a journalist,” he said. “Our whole goal is to seek information.”
Reporting on US military affairs will continue – from a greater distance
Many journalists posted on social media when they returned their press badges.
USNINews reporter Heather Mongilio, who covers the Navy, wrote, “It’s a very small thing, but I was really proud to see my photo on the Pentagon correspondents’ wall.” “Today, I will surrender my badge. Reporting will continue.”
Mongilio, Youssef and others stressed that they will continue to do their jobs, no matter where their desks are. Some sources will continue to talk to him, though they say some in the military have been mollified by threats from Pentagon leadership.
In an essay, NPR reporter Tom Bowman noted that people he knew while at the Pentagon and in the military had told him several times what was happening, even if it contradicted the official lines stated by leadership. Many people understand the role of media.
“They knew the American public deserved to know what was happening,” Bowman wrote. “With no journalists able to ask questions, it seems the Pentagon leadership will continue to rely on slick social media posts, carefully crafted short videos, and interviews with partisan commentators and podcasters. No one should think that’s good enough.”
The Pentagon Press Association, whose 101 members represent 56 news outlets, has spoken out against the rules. Organizations across the media spectrum, from legacy organizations like The Associated Press and The New York Times to outlets like Fox and conservative Newsmax, asked their journalists to leave rather than sign on to the new rules.
Only the conservative One America News Network signed on. Former Pentagon reporter Gabrielle Cuccia, who was fired earlier this year for writing an online column criticizing Hegseth’s media policies, told the AP in an interview that its management believed showing support for Trump administration officials would lead to greater reach.