FazTimes Media: For the first time in a while, some top American news companies—both those that usually lean left and those that lean right—refuse to follow new rules set by the US Department of Defense. They say these rules are a big threat to the free press and break constitutional rights.

The Pentagon released a memo in September that set new conditions for journalists wanting to cover military events. The memo said reporters must promise to withhold "unauthorized" information, even if it's not classified, to keep their press credentials.

This rule caused a lot of anger in the media world. Big news outlets claimed the Pentagon is trying to control the news and use government rules to stop journalists from doing their job freely.

Media Groups Team Up Against Pentagon Rules

After a lot of criticism, the Pentagon made a small change last week, switching the word "signing" to "acknowledging" the rules. But the main problem is still there.

Major news groups like The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR, Reuters, and The Associated Press have all said they won’t agree to these new limits.

BBC News reports that even some conservative media outlets, like The Washington Times and Newsmax, have joined the protest. This shows a rare agreement across different sides about protecting press freedom.

In a social media post, Matt Murray, the executive editor of The Washington Post, said:

“Putting limits on getting and sharing news like this goes against First Amendment rights. We’ll keep reporting honestly and fairly on the Pentagon and government officials.”

Newsmax, which usually has a conservative stance, told Axios that the Pentagon’s new rules are “not needed and too much work” and warned that they might stop reporters from holding military leaders accountable.

The Pentagon maintains its stance, asserting that the new regulations aim to safeguard national security and prevent the leakage of sensitive information.

Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, said the department spoke with the Pentagon Press Association (PPA), which is an organization that represents defense reporters. He said they had “good faith talks,” but he also stressed that asking service members or civilians to break the law by sharing secret information is not allowed.

“We believe in a free and independent press,” Parnell said, “but our main responsibility is to protect the lives of service members and keep classified operations safe.”

The Pentagon Press Association disagreed, saying the new rules are much stricter than what’s needed for security and that they are meant to silence the press.

“The Pentagon can’t force journalists to agree to unfair rules just to get access,” the PPA said in a statement. “Reporters should be able to cover military issues without being stopped or punished.”

The bigger issue is about the First Amendment, which protects free speech and a free press in the U.S. Some legal experts say the Pentagon’s rules might break those rights by stopping journalists from publishing even information that isn’t classified.

Al Jazeera has compared this situation to the 1971 Supreme Court case, New York Times Co. v. United States, where the court allowed journalists to publish classified documents about the Vietnam War.

“History shows that limiting the press under the name of national security can lead to abuse of power,” said Professor Emily Sanford from Georgetown University. “Even if the Pentagon’s plan is meant to help, it sets a dangerous example for limiting transparency.”

The Pete Hegseth Factor

The Pentagon’s new reporting rules are being supported by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host who was named to the position by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Hegseth has often criticized mainstream media for “harming the military,” and many journalists believe he is pushing a political agenda to shape the way the Pentagon’s actions are reported.

Critics argue that the new rules show Hegseth’s opposition to the media, which matches Trump’s longtime comments calling journalists “enemies of the people.”

“Interestingly, a former journalist is now backing one of the strictest media policies the Pentagon has ever created,” said Mark Knoller, a longtime White House reporter. “This change weakens the long-standing trust between the military and the press.”

Why the Media Is Standing Up

The strong opposition to the Pentagon’s new rules is more than just about access to information—it’s about values. Accepting these limits, according to media groups, could set a poor precedent for other government agencies to follow.

With the new guidelines, journalists could potentially lose their Pentagon access—and their ability to report on military issues—if they publish content the Pentagon labels as “unauthorized,” even if the information is in the public interest and doesn’t threaten national security.

“This is an unacceptable overstep,” said Katherine Brown, president of the Global Press Freedom Initiative.

“The job of journalists is to share news with the public, not to act as the government’s voice.”

Political Reactions and Public Response

The new policy has also started causing discussions in Washington. A few Democratic lawmakers are asking the Defense Department to stop the new rules, saying they make it harder to keep things open and transparent in a democracy.

However, not all Republicans agree with the new policy. Some, like Senator Tom Cotton, are standing up for the Pentagon's right to guard important information. Others, such as Senator Rand Paul, are saying the policy is a clear break from the Constitution's rights.

People do not all agree. Some Americans are behind the Pentagon's goal to protect military secrets. Others express concerns that these developments may result in increased government control over the dissemination of information. The issue has sparked a lot of conversation on social media, with tags like #PressFreedomNow and #StopPentagonCensorship becoming popular on X (formerly Twitter).

A Broader Pattern of Media Control

Experts see this as part of a bigger trend. In recent times, reporters who cover national security have found it harder to do their jobs. They face fewer chances to cover military actions and have to go through more strict checks for the working press.

BBC News reports that the US government has also been watching journalists more closely when there are leaks of top-secret information, which makes it even harder for reporters to do their work.

“This administration has always been against transparency, but the Pentagon's policy is taking it to a new level,” explained David Boardman, head of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. “If these rules stay, they could change how the military and the media work together for many years.”

What Happens Next

Currently, most big news organizations are not agreeing to or even acknowledging the Pentagon's guidelines, which is causing a deadlock. The Pentagon Press Association is asking for talks to change the rules, and some news outlets are looking into legal ways to fight against them.

Supporters of press freedom fear that enforcing the rules could discourage journalists from reporting the truth. This could stop people from speaking out, limit how much the public knows, and make it harder to hold the government accountable.

“The media not backing down is critical,” said Professor Sanford. "If journalists came in now, the government could have more control over information."

As the situation continues, one thing is clear: what happens here will affect not just news about the military in the US, but the ongoing fight for free press in democratic countries.

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