SecWar New Press Credentialing Policy
Years ago, a high-ranking officer who respected my work as a journalist sent me the Alpha Precedence List from the Pentagon. I now had in my possession the name of every officer and staffer and the location of their office, their title, home address, cell phone numbers, name of spouse, birth dates, anniversary date, children's names, etc. It was an absolutely stunning document and I had no prior knowledge of its existence.
I kept it for an abbreviated period of time and then I destroyed it. The usual rule applied. If it cannot be left on a desk where all can see it, then it requires a chain of custody. It was delivered outside of chain of command, hence, an inadvertent but important leak of information vital to the national interest.
Could I be trusted with the information? Yes. Should it have been in my possession? Absolutely not. I was not within the Pentagon chain of command. But more importantly, what was the national security risk if this document found its way into the hands of terrorists? The leak of this information would have been incalculable.
In looking at the new rules being instituted for the Pentagon press corps, there is no uneasiness on my part with tightening disciplinary measures for journalists privileged enough to receive access to the facility. Past administrations (from the White House to the Pentagon) have provided "leaks" to their favorite journalists in quid pro quo manner. The journalists, for their part, have readily adapted to their roles as ordinary household pets. They have forgotten their primary duty. It is to investigate!
Our journalism schools have also churned out journalists who are lazy bifurcated souls dependent on leaks and "breaking news" to earn a living. They are professional snitches and not professional reporters.
Very few - are the Seymour Hersh of this world; investigative journalists who quietly and patiently hone their craft to present some of the most amazing stories of our century. These valorous few painstakingly build their stories over months. This work can involve late night conversations, early morning coffee, commutes and international travel patterns which require physical fortitude. You will not find them huddled inside the Pentagon or the White House. My guess is they would find this environment claustrophobic and counterproductive to true journalism standards.
It is time that journalism once again become the hardest job on the planet; a career which requires strenuous hours, formidable research, and the ability to cultivate one's own contacts without introduction nor assistance from another.
If you ask the wrong question you always receive the wrong answer. Is this about press restriction or intimidation of reporters? Not really. It is about presenting the Pentagon press corps with a challenge. Are any of you willing and capable enough to do the hard work of reporting? If the answer is yes, then leave the building and hit the streets of Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Singapore. A whole new world awaits you - and the stories are out there. Stories which can be supported by facts. By yourself a shovel. It is time to start digging. smile
https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/1978183954512363942
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-news-organizations-are-rejecting-the-pentagons-new-press-rules
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