Pentagon Firing Military Newspaper Editor Raises First Amendment Question
Summary
The Pentagon fired the editor and a reporter of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes after they spoke out against censorship. Stars and Stripes has a long history of editorial independence ensured by law, but recent Pentagon actions have raised concerns about free speech and press freedom under President Donald Trump’s administration.Key Facts
- Stars and Stripes is a military newspaper important for independent military news.
- Congress required Stars and Stripes to have editorial independence in 1991.
- The Pentagon fired the newspaper’s ombudsman, Jacqueline Smith, earlier this year.
- Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin was fired after saying censorship of news for service members is unacceptable.
- Reporter Lara Korte was also fired after stating she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon or any administration.
- Longtime publisher Max D. Lederer Jr. retired due to disagreements with Pentagon leadership.
- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the firings attacks on free speech and press freedom.
- First Amendment protections guarantee press freedom, which many see as threatened by these Pentagon decisions.
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