Washington relaxes rules over press access to Pentagon

The US Defence Department on Oct 6 loosened and clarified its new restrictions for press access to the Pentagon, after more than two weeks of negotiations with US national news organisations.

- Erik Wemple

Under the rules, journalists requiring credentials to the Pentagon will not need approval from the department before publishing articles with information not officially released. News organisations widely interpreted an earlier draft as requiring that approval, drawing their condemnation.

"Members of the news media are not required to submit their writings" to the department before publication, the new draft says. The draft does, however, outline rules under which journalists could be deemed “security risks” and have their credentials revoked.

News outlets that want access to the Pentagon will have a week to review the policy and decide whether to sign it.