#1
#1 out of 131.5K est. views
politics13h ago
Pentagon says it will revamp Stars and Stripes newspaper and jettison 'woke distractions'
Nbcnews.com and 2 more
- Pentagon vows to overhaul Stars and Stripes, returning to its original mission of reporting for warfighters while modernizing operations for the 21st century.
- The reform package aims to purge what the Pentagon calls 'woke distractions' and emphasize core military topics such as lethality, weapons systems, fitness, and survivability.
- Officials insist the paper remains under Defense Media Activity and constitutionally bound to First Amendment principles, while still receiving Pentagon funding.
- No more AP reprints or DC gossip columns; the publication will emphasize military-focused coverage across warfighting, policy, and service-member morale.
- The change follows scrutiny over job applications suggesting political alignment questions, raising concerns about editorial independence.
- Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin emphasized that Stars and Stripes does not pose policy-support questions in interviews, noting that such queries were added by the Office of Personnel Management for federal applicants generally.
- The Defense Department confirms reforms but offers limited comment, signaling sensitivity around independence debates and editorial control.
- NBC News highlights the historical independence of Stars and Stripes, noting it has a long tradition dating to 1861 and is constitutionally mandated to First Amendment principles.
- Pentagon asserts the revamp will protect morale and morale-boosting coverage while ensuring service members receive independent, essential reporting.
- NBC News situates the overhaul within broader questions about media independence and the role of a military publication funded by defense budgets.
Vote 3