“ The Pentagon Press Association (PPA) made a sharp statement, accusing the US Department of Defense of “suppressing the free press” with the help of a new accreditation policy. The new rules initiated by the Defense Minister, Pete Hegset, restrict journalists’ access to the building and threaten the deprivation of accreditation for collecting information that has not been officially allowed for publication, even if it is not secret. Source: AXIOS with reference to PPA’s statement: the US Defense Ministry has increased tensions through a memorandum of September 15, which introduces new, stringent rules to work in the Pentagon. According to them, journalists should sign a document confirming their “understanding” of a new policy that prohibits the collection of any information without prior permission. In her statement, PPA stated that these rules are forcing journalists to agree with a policy that “potentially give us to pursue for the simple performance of our work.” According to PPA, reporters who will try to get information, even non -creating, risk losing their accreditation for the exercise of their right, guaranteed by the first amendment to the US Constitution. “This policy sends an unprecedented signal to all employees of the Ministry of Defense, warning against any unauthorized contact with the press and even assuming that talking without special permission is a crime-although it is not in fact a violation,” the Association said. In addition, journalists have expressed concern for the plans of the Pentagon to move all their editions from the selected work premises, which, in their opinion, is even more isolates reporters and complicate their work. Literally PPA: “The access of reporters to the Pentagon has always been limited to classified premises – the opinion that journalists are wandering in offices where they are forbidden, simply absurd. They have a constitutional right to ask questions. This level of access has never led to a crisis of national security.” Details: In response, the Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that the Ministry of Defense “was conducting bona fide negotiations” with the Association and accepted many of the amendments. He insists that the only change is a “delayed update of our accreditation process, which has not been reviewed for years” to meet it to modern security standards. “Access to the Pentagon is a privilege, not the right, and the department not only has the right, but is also morally obliged to introduce reasonable rules for the use of this privilege,” Parnell stressed. The Association rejects these arguments, emphasizing that media restrictions are disrespectful to US taxpayers who have the right to know how to manage their armed forces. “The American people deserve more information from this administration, and no less. We hope that the Pentagon will think,” – summed up in PPA. Prehistory: In September, the media wrote that the Pentagon reported a number of editions that their accredited correspondents were obliged to coordinate the publication of any information received in the department. In addition, correspondents were informed about the establishment of restrictions on the movement inside the Pentagon building. These changes were concerned about media. In a letter to the Pentagon of September 22, the Committee of Reporters for Freedom of the Press argued that the rules contain ambiguous formulations on journalists’ responsibilities, including the requirement to obtain the government’s permission into articles containing even unnecessary information. In February, the White House banned the Associated Press journalists access to the Oval Cabinet and the Air Force One Presidential board because of refusing to use the Gulf of the Geographical name. In Kvita, the Federal Judge ordered the White House to renew the Associated Press in the Presidential Pulle of Journalists.”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
US President Donald Trump and Defense Minister Pete Hegset. Photo: Getty Images Source: Axios With reference to PPA’s statement
Details: In recent weeks, the US Defense Defense has increased tensions through a memorandum of September 15, which introduces new, stringent rules to work in the Pentagon. According to them, journalists should sign a document confirming their “understanding” of a new policy that prohibits the collection of any information without prior permission.
Advertising:
In her statement, PPA stated that these rules are forcing journalists to agree with a policy that “potentially give us to pursue for the simple performance of our work.” According to PPA, reporters who will try to get information, even non -creating, risk losing their accreditation for the exercise of their right, guaranteed by the first amendment to the US Constitution.
“This policy sends an unprecedented signal to all employees of the Ministry of Defense, warning against any unauthorized contact with the press and even assuming that talking without special permission is a crime-although it is not in fact a violation,” the Association said.
In addition, journalists have expressed concern for the plans of the Pentagon to move all their editions from the selected work premises, which, in their opinion, is even more isolates reporters and complicate their work.
Literally PPA: “The access of reporters to the Pentagon has always been limited to classified premises – the opinion that journalists are wandering in the offices where they are forbidden, simply absurd. They have a constitutional right to ask questions. This level of access has never led to a crisis of national security, which is being feared by the current management.”
Details: In response, the Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that the Ministry of Defense “was conducting bona fide negotiations” with the Association and accepted many of the amendments. He insists that the only change is a “delayed update of our accreditation process, which has not been reviewed for years” to meet it to modern security standards.
“Access to the Pentagon is a privilege, not the right, and the department not only has the right, but is also morally obliged to introduce reasonable rules for the use of this privilege,” Parnell stressed.
The Association rejects these arguments, emphasizing that media restrictions are disrespectful to US taxpayers who have the right to know how to manage their armed forces.
“The American people deserve more information from this administration and no less. We hope that the Pentagon will think about,” shafts in PPA.
Prehistory:
- In September, the media wrote that Pentagon reported a number of editions that their accredited correspondents were obliged to to coordinate the publication any information received in the department. In addition, correspondents were informed about the establishment of restrictions on the movement inside the Pentagon building.
- These changes were concerned about media. In a letter to the Pentagon of September 22, the Committee of Reporters for Freedom of the Press argued that the rules contain ambiguous formulations on journalists’ responsibilities, including the requirement to obtain the government’s permission into articles containing even unnecessary information.
- In February White House Forbade journalists Associated Press access to the Oval Cabinet and the Air Force One Presidential board because of refusing to use the geographical name “The Gulf”.
- Federal Judge in Kvita obliged the White House to renew Participation of Associated Press in the Presidential Pulle of Journalists.