The Pentagon has retreated from a controversial press policy after sharp backlash, clarifying that credentialed journalists will not be required to seek Defense Department approval before publishing articles based on unclassified information, The Hill reported.
The revised guidance, released Monday evening, marks a reversal from an earlier draft issued last month, which press groups said threatened press freedom. That draft suggested reporters could lose their credentials if they published material not cleared by Pentagon officials, sparking widespread criticism.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had defended the earlier version, arguing the “mainstream media” was “misrepresenting” the department’s intent. But the updated policy specifies that journalists “are not required to submit their writings” for review before publication.
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