5d ago

Newsmax refuses to sign Trump admin’s new Pentagon press access policy

www.newsweek.com

Newsmax has declined to sign the Pentagon’s revised media credentialing agreement, becoming the first major outlet to publicly reject the Defense Department’s new restrictions on press access, CBS News' Jim LaPorta reports.

The Pentagon Press Association confirmed Wednesday that negotiations over the policy have stalled, warning that the rules could undermine press freedom and expose journalists to legal risk.

24 comments

Wait, Newsmax refused, the media outlet that makes Fox News look normal? Huh.
- Washington Post and a few others as well, yes.
  I’m also struggling to see the issue:
  “News organizations pushed back, and the policy was revised last week to say that members of the media were not required to submit their writings, but that U.S. military personnel could face "adverse consequences" if they make unauthorized disclosures to reporters. Reporters could then be viewed as security risks and have their access revoked“
  The military is covered under UCMJ and yes, you CAN get in trouble for leaking information. That’s literally part of the reason you have a security clearance, because you are saying you’re trustworthy enough to not leak shit.
  
  The problem is that this has a chilling effect on reporters using anonymous sources for fear being blackballed by the govt.
  
  Why would a reporter need security clearance? Their entire function is to report information. I don’t understand your point.
Holy fuck, when the batshit crazies are opposed then you know it is some absolute un-abashed balls to the wall lunacy.
This feels like a ....
turning point?
- Bang
  
  Grrrrraaagghhhhlll
Newsmax is conservative enough to get media access whether they sign it or not; the goal of the policy is ultimately censorship, allowing the Pentagon to selectively enforce it against liberal and moderate publications that don't parrot their fascist propaganda.
This is about the “you have to get our permission to report anything” policy.
Newsmax said it had "no plans" to sign up to plans set out by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's department to restrict access to the Pentagon.
The main issue around the policy comes down to how information is shared with reporters. The initial plan called for all department information, whether classified or not, be run past Pentagon officials before an outlet could be allowed to publish an article.
News organizations pushed back, and the policy was revised last week to say that members of the media were not required to submit their writings, but that U.S. military personnel could face "adverse consequences" if they make unauthorized disclosures to reporters. Reporters could then be viewed as security risks and have their access revoked.
Does this mean the others meekly submitted? Or just that they're still running their options through their lawyers

24 comments