Over 35 Mainstream Outlets Across the Spectrum Reject Pentagon’s New Press Policy

Over 35 mainstream media outlets across the spectrum have said they will not sign the Pentagon’s newly mandated media policy over concerns that it interferes with their rights as reporters.

The Details: Outlets that refused to sign are expected to hand in their press credentials by Wednesday. So far, only one outlet, One America News Network (Right bias) has agreed to the new policy. On Tuesday, broadcast networks ABC News (Lean Left), CBS News (Lean Left), CNN (Lean Left), Fox News (Right), and NBC News (Lean Left) said in a joint statement that they would not sign.

For Context: The new policy could see outlets designated as security liabilities and lose their credentials if they ask Defense Department employees to disclose classified or certain types of unclassified information. In February, the Pentagon rotated several outlets from the left out of their designated office spaces and several outlets from the right in. Also in February, over 40 news outlets across the spectrum spoke up for Associated Press (Left) when the Trump administration revoked its access to presidential spaces.

Key Quotes: Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement on Monday, “The policy does not ask for them to agree, just to acknowledge that they understand what our policy is. This has caused reporters to have a full blown meltdown, crying victim online. We stand by our policy because it's what's best for our troops and the national security of this country.” The five major networks said in their statement that they were joining “virtually every other news organization” in declining the new rules.

How The Media Covered It: The story was widely covered by mainstream media, including outlets that had rejected the new rules and others that had not, including international outlets. An analysis from The Washington Examiner (Lean Right), which declined the new rules, noted at the end, “The Pentagon has not held a briefing since it began using lethal force to target these alleged ships and has not shared any evidence proving the people killed in these ships are, in fact, drug smugglers.” Variety (Lean Left) shared a list of the outlets that rejected the rules.

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