US news outlets say they will not agree to Pentagon reporting restrictions

"Reporters must promise not to publish unauthorised material to obtain press credentials. Major media organisations, including conservative outlets, say the Pentagon is placing unlawful restrictions on journalists and their ability to cover the US military under a new set of reporting guidelines. The guidelines were first announced in a September memo from the Department of Defense, and said that reporters must sign an affidavit pledging they would not publish unauthorised material including unclassified documents to keep their Pentagon press credentials."

"Following pushback from the media, the wording was modified last week to say that reporters must simply acknowledge the new rules, but many organisations remain critical of the latest version of the rules. Media companies, including public broadcaster NPR, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, and the Reuters and Associated Press news agencies, have all said they will not sign the rules in recent statements."

"They also say the rules violate the US Constitution, which offers broad protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press under the First Amendment. These rights were reaffirmed in a landmark 1971 Supreme Court case, New York Times Co v United States, that allowed US media to publish classified military documents during the Vietnam War. The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections by placing unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information."

The Pentagon issued reporting guidelines requiring reporters to pledge they will not publish unauthorised material, including unclassified documents, to retain Pentagon press credentials. The original affidavit requirement was revised to an acknowledgement after media pushback, but many organisations remained critical. Major outlets and news agencies, including NPR, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, Reuters and the Associated Press, have said they will not sign the rules. News organisations argue the measures violate First Amendment protections and cite the 1971 New York Times Co v United States precedent allowing publication of classified military documents. Conservative outlets including The Washington Times and Newsmax also refused to sign.

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