United we stand, divided we fall! Washington Post joins NYT, CNN, Atlantic in refusing to sign US Defense Dept’s restrictive new press policy

There is a famous saying 'United we stand, divided we fall'. The phrase seems to be working fine, at least in the US, on the Pentagon 's new press policy. Notably, media outlets have refused to sign the Defense Department’s new press policy for which the deadline was Tuesday afternoon. The Washington Post, New York Times, Associated Press, Newsmax, Washington Times and CNN have come together in refusing in signing the new restrictive policy.

Matt Murray, The Washington Post’s executive editor, said the new restrictive press policy goes against the Constitution and it violates the right to freedom of the press.

Murray added that The Washington Post will continue to fairly report on the policies and positions of the Pentagon.

“The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections by placing unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information,” he said in a statement Monday.

“We will continue to vigorously and fairly report on the policies and positions of the Pentagon and officials across the government,” he added.

The new press policy says that reporters can only report on the matters that the Defense Department allows. They cannot report on solicit any information that the department does not authorize.

The policy added that any media representative who does not sign the policy by Tuesday (5 PM) to return their credentials. Besides, they will have to level the Pentagon facilities.

Reporters, news organizations and press freedom groups have criticized the Pentagon over the policy. This prompted Pentagon expanded the prohibitions in the document and added more restrictions.

This made the situation worse. Last week, the Pentagon Press Association strongly criticized the changes. The group represents the reporters who cover the Pentagon. They said the new rules threaten press freedom and that the policy limits access to information.

Richard Stevenson, Washington bureau chief of The New York Times, said that the new press policy limits how journalists can report on the US military. He explained that the military is funded by nearly USD 1 trillion in taxpayer money each year.

“The public has a right to know how the government and military are operating,” he said and stressed that transparency is key in a democracy, especially when so much public money is involved.

Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell in a statement said that media houses have “decided to move the goal post.” The policy doesn’t require reporters to agree, but just acknowledge they understand the policy, he said and criticized reporters for speaking out against it.

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