Kathmandu— Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, a prominent United States military newspaper, and Lara Korte, one of its top reporters, received notices of separation from the Pentagon on Friday, along with publisher Max Lederer who had previously announced his retirement at the end of September. Slavin believes the terminations were in response to publicly defending the newspaper’s editorial independence amid increasing pressure from the administration to refocus content and limit reporting critical of military policy. The firings have sparked concern from press freedom groups and Democratic senators, who fear a compromise of independent journalism for service members.

Growing Pentagon Pressure on Editorial Content

For months, the Pentagon has sought to reshape the focus of Stars and Stripes, with spokesperson Sean Parnell announcing in January an intention to return the paper to its “original mission: reporting for our warfighters.” This included a directive to move away from what he termed “woke distractions” and concentrate on topics directly related to military operations, equipment, and personnel. The department also signaled it would intervene to control content and eliminate outside news sources like Associated Press reprints. These efforts followed reports by Stars and Stripes regarding the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which detailed instances of sailors experiencing suicidal thoughts and attempts at self-harm – accounts dismissed by the Trump administration as exaggerated.

Leadership Changes and Concerns Over Independence

The firing of editor-in-chief Slavin and reporter Korte followed earlier changes within the organization that raised alarms among press freedom advocates. In April, Jacqueline Smith, the newspaper’s ombudsman – a role dedicated to upholding ethical standards and independence – was terminated. Additionally, Navy Captain William Urban was appointed as deputy publisher without consulting Lederer, the outgoing publisher. Lederer himself cited fundamental disagreements with the Department of Defense's direction for the organization in his resignation memo. Urban, while praising the paper’s historical commitment to independent reporting, has emphasized a need for “modernization” and a focus on digital storytelling.

Calls for Accountability from Lawmakers and Press Groups

The recent staffing shake-up prompted immediate criticism from both press freedom organizations and members of Congress. Chris Vaccaro, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, stated that Stars and Stripes cannot fulfill its mission if journalists fear retaliation for independent reporting, emphasizing service members deserve journalism serving their interests, not the Pentagon’s. Three Democratic senators – Richard Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, and Jeanne Shaheen – sent a letter to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth demanding answers regarding what they characterized as the “degradation” of the newspaper’s independence, stressing the importance of maintaining a clear separation between journalism and public affairs.

The future of Stars and Stripes remains uncertain following these recent changes, with concerns raised about its ability to maintain independent reporting and serve the interests of service members. The Pentagon has not yet responded to requests for further comment.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.