Pentagon Fires Journalists at Military Newspaper, Raising Alarms

State of the Union: Stars and Stripes has reported on hardships facing sailors in the Iran War.

Pentagon fires leaders of military newspaper Stars and Stripes  CNN

Fired Editor Of Stars And Stripes Military Newspaper Says He’s Concerned About Censorship At The Pentagon  Forbes

The Pentagon has fired the editor-in-chief and publisher of Stars and Stripes newspaper amid an editorial freedom row. Learn more about the Pentagon sacks

The editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes said he was fired, alongside the newspaper's publisher and a reporter, for insubordination after he objected to potential editorial interference.

Stars and Stripes is partially funded by the DOD but has long maintained editorial independence.

The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte for alleged insubordination.

"According to the notice, I am being fired for stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a personal red line," Erik Slavin said.

Editor-in-chief Erik Slavin has suggested his firing was retaliation for speaking out about editorial independence.

“People should be outraged,” Will Creely, FIRE's legal director, told Newsweek.

The Pentagon fired three staffers from the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, including longtime publisher Max Lederer, for alleged insubordination.

The news comes about a month after the editor stressed the importance of the newspaper’s independence in an interview, and a few days after the publisher announced his plans to retire.

As the Pentagon takes steps to control the newspaper, in spite of its tradition of independence and civilian leadership, senators are demanding answers.

Max Lederer Jr., the publisher of Stars and Stripes, has stepped down amidst disputes over editorial independence. The Pentagon's push for more oversight has sparked tension regarding the military newspaper's objective reporting. Their recent pieces on poor conditions and declining morale reportedly led to criticism fr