The Pentagon fires the editor-in-chief of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, along with the publisher and a reporter, according to the outlet’s leadership and multiple reports. The Stars and Stripes editor says the dismissals follow an interview conducted with CBS News.
The dispute centers on the outlet’s reporting and concerns about possible interference or “censorship” by the Defense Department. PBS NewsHour reports that the editor and a top reporter are fired for insubordination after speaking publicly against any Defense Department interference, highlighting Stars and Stripes’ history of editorial independence. Forbes describes the editor as worried about military censorship and notes Stars and Stripes’ earlier reporting about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Other coverage describes the escalation of a “censorship” spat, including the publisher’s announcement of retirement earlier this week and a subsequent separation notice, which the editor says is connected to the same conflict. Across outlets, the shared elements are the firings, the stated reason of insubordination, and the trigger linked to public comments made after the CBS interview.
