"My job has been to ask questions on behalf of my fellow citizens, seeking information we all have the right to know about national security in the United States. The First Amendment protects my ability to do this work. But one week ago, the Pentagon announced that journalists would no longer be accredited to enter the building unless they sign a new agreement."
"Although worded somewhat ambiguously, they appear to put sharp limits on news-gathering activities and may impose penalties on people seeking information-including unclassified information-outside of what decision makers want to share. Under the proposed rules, which run to 17 pages, "information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified." Anyone who publishes unapproved information could, theoretically, have their accreditation revoked, which would leave them barred from the Pentagon-and maybe from military facilities worldwide."
A journalist with 18 years of Pentagon reporting experience has faced resistance from military leaders and risked life while covering wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffering injuries and losing colleagues. The First Amendment has protected the ability to seek information about national security. The Pentagon announced new accreditation rules requiring signing a lengthy agreement to enter the building. Previously, reporters signed a one-page agreement with minor stipulations. The new rules are ambiguous, appear to restrict news-gathering, may penalize seeking unclassified information, require official preapproval for public release, and could lead to revocation of Pentagon access.
Read at The Atlantic
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