Journalists Forced to Obtain Approval to Publish Stories in New Pentagon Restrictions

EURO NEWS: Media organisations and professionals have denounced the new Pentagon restrictions as unconstitutional, describing it as an attack on the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press.

The Pentagon says it will require journalists credentialed to sign a pledge to refrain from reporting on information that has not been authorised for release, including unclassified information.

A 17-page memo released by the US Department of War, recently renamed by the Trump administration from the Department of Defence, detailed that journalists who do not abide by the policy risk losing their credentials that provide access to the Pentagon.

“Information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified,” the directive states.

Advocates for press freedoms denounced the non-disclosure requirement as an attack on independent journalism. The new Pentagon restrictions arrive as US President Donald Trump steps up threats, lawsuits and pressure as he looks to reshape the landscape of US media. » | Malek Fouda | Sunday, September 21, 2025

How does this measure and the shutting down of free speech in America rhyme with JD Vance’s relatively recent criticism of free speech in Europe in his speech at the Munich Security Conference? This is hypocrisy writ large!

A member of the Trump administration comes to Europe to criticize Europe for its perceived lack of free speech whilst the very same people are busy curtailing free speech in their own country! — © Mark Alexander

JD Vance’s full speech at the Munich Security Conference here.

How Serious Is This Current Situation for US Press Freedom and Freedom of Speech? | DW News

Sep 19, 2025 | US President Donald Trump has suggested the licenses of TV networks that criticize him should be cancelled.

He was speaking after the ABC network indefinitely suspended the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" late night talk show. The host said Trump's supporters wanted to exploit the killing of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk for political gain.

Trump: Critical TV Networks Could Lose Licenses | DW News

Sep 19, 2025 | US broadcaster ABC has taken the talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" off-air, following the comedian's comments about the killing of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, and the Trump administration's response. Jimmy Kimmel suggested that the suspect in the slaying was actually a pro-Trump Republican, and he accused the administration of exploiting the killing for politics. Kimmel is one of President Trump's long-time critics.

The UK Reined in Rupert Murdoch. Why Can’t We Stop Vincent Bolloré in France?

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: The billionaire is poised to gobble up titles like Paris Match and publisher Hachette. Europe must intervene to uphold media freedom

The Bolloré Group is now trying via Vivendi to acquire influential titles such as news magazine Paris Match. Photograph: Jacques Brinon/AP
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted by France in 1789 to enshrine the principles of the French Revolution, noted that “the free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely”.

Today’s French constitution echoes that same defence of the “freedom, pluralism and independence of the media”.

And yet, media pluralism is at risk in France. Yes, in France.

This may surprise outsiders who tend to think of Poland or Hungary when considering threats to media freedom in Europe.

But pluralism is also an issue in France because of the expanding reach and power of the Bolloré Group. This family-owned conglomerate is already the principal shareholder of Vivendi, a global company that owns leading assets in television and movies, in advertising, PR, publishing and in digital content distribution. The Bolloré Group is now trying through Vivendi to acquire its rival the Lagardère Group, a merger that can only go through if it is approved by the European Commission. » | Julia Cagé and others | Wednesday, November 30, 2022

America's Media under Trump: An Ominous Start - The Listening Post

The challenges ahead for journalism covering the Trump presidency: What's in store for the media under the new US administration? How will American reporters adapt?

Is Turkey's Free Press Under Attack?

Takeover of Zaman Newspaper: End of Democracy in Turkey

The latest government takeover of the Zaman media outlet in Istanbul is "not a surprise at all,' a journalist who had been working in the country told RT, adding that "the press has never been free in Turkey.'

'We are Charlie': Across France, Nearly 4 Million March to Honor Victims of [Islamic] Terrorist Attacks

FOX NEWS: At least 3.7 million people including more than 40 world leaders are marching throughout France on Sunday in a rally of national unity to honor the 17 victims of a three-day terror spree that took place around the French capital.

The French Interior Ministry said the rally for unity against terrorism is the largest demonstration in France's history, more than the numbers who took to Paris streets when the Allies liberated the city from the Nazis in World War II.

The ministry said between 1.2 million and 1.6 million marched the Paris streets. But it said a precise account is impossible given the enormity of the turnout in the capital.

The aftermath of the attacks remained raw, with video emerging of one of the gunmen killed during police raids pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and detailing how the attacks were going to unfold. Also, a new shooting was linked to that gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, who was killed Friday along with the brothers behind a massacre at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in nearly simultaneous raids by security forces.

"Today, Paris is the capital of the world," said French President Francois Hollande. "Our entire country will rise up toward something better." (+ FoxNews video) » | FoxNews.com | Sunday, January 11, 2015

Charlie Hebdo Attack: 'Who Dares to Publish Anything after This?' – Cartoonist Lars Vilks

Inside Story: Uncomfortable Truths: How Free Is the Press?

Global watchdog says world press freedom has hit its lowest level in a decade.

Free Press? Editor Laments 'Retrogressive' Government Action

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The Guardian has played a key role in exposing the intelligence agency excesses revealed in documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden. Editor Alan Rusbridger discusses his work and the mounting pressure by the British government to silence the leaks. » | Interview By Christoph Scheuermann | Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Leveson Deal: New Regulator Will End 300 Years of Press Freedom, New York Times Warns
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain's new media regulator will "stifle" journalism and end 300 years of press freedom, The New York Times has warned.

In an editorial, the newspaper says that the draft royal charter will "create a system of government regulation" and damage democracy.

It argues that existing criminal and civil laws are sufficient to deal with phone hacking and "egregious actions" by tabloid newspapers, such as the now defunct News of the World.

The editorial says: "In an attempt to rein in its reckless tabloid newspapers, Britain's three main political parties this year agreed to impose unwieldy regulations on the news media that would chill free speech and threaten the survival of small publishers and Internet sites.

"The kind of press regulations proposed by British politicians would do more harm than good because an unfettered press is essential to democracy.

"It would be perverse if regulations enacted in response to this scandal ended up stifling the kind of hard-hitting investigative journalism that brought it to light in the first place." » | Steven Swinford | Wednesday, March 20, 2013

British Press Laws Are 'Just Crazy', Say Shocked Americans
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain’s new press regulations were roundly condemned across the world this morning as a threat to free speech.

The new rules left American commentators “horrified and shocked” at what they considered to be a “crazy idea”.

They said that the “shameful compromise” would never be allowed in the USA because it breaches the First Amendment[.]

The Kremlin-funded broadcaster Russia Today described the guidelines as a “threat to press freedom”.

The reaction came after the cross-party agreement was attacked by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the international body that polices human rights.

Britain, with its long running democracy, is often held up as a beacon of liberty.

But the changes in the law have left many dismayed. » | Richard Alleyne | Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Leveson Report: New Legislation Would Be 'Dangerous' to Free Speech, New York Times Warns

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: New legislation proposed by Lord Justice Leveson would be “potentially dangerous” to Britain’s 300-year-old tradition of press freedom, the New York Times has warned.

New legislation proposed by Lord Justice Leveson would be “potentially dangerous” to Britain’s 300-year-old tradition of press freedom, the New York Times has warned.

In a leader, America’s newspaper of record said statutory underpinning of a new watchdog body would be “a big step in the wrong direction” for a country whose press already operates in a “harsh” legal environment.

It notes: “Millions of Britons were justifiably outraged over last year’s serial revelations of illegal and unethical behaviour by the powerful and influential tabloid press in Britain. But the regulatory remedies proposed [by Leveson] seem misplaced, excessive and potentially dangerous to Britain’s centuries-old traditions of a press free from government regulation. » | Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter | Friday, November 30, 2012

Inside Story: What Is the State of Corruption in Greece?
As a Greek journalist stands trial for violating data privacy laws, we ask how it may affect the country's next bailout. (November 02, 2012)

Greek Journalist Acquitted in Swiss Accounts Scandal

REUTERS.COM: (Reuters) - A Greek journalist who published the names of more than 2,000 of his compatriots who held Swiss bank accounts was acquitted on Thursday in a case that touched a nerve over the role of tax evasion in the country's debt crisis.

The trial of Costas Vaxevanis, editor of the weekly Hot Doc magazine, had aroused international concern and intense interest among Greeks hit by the impact of the country's economic collapse and angry at the privileges of the elite.

He could have faced up to two year years in prison on charges of violating data privacy laws that Vaxevanis said were politically motivated and the result of politicians protecting an "untouchable" wealthy class.

His speedy arrest and trial following publication of the "Lagarde List" at the weekend - so named for Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund - touched a nerve in near-bankrupt Greece, where rampant tax evasion is undermining a struggle to cut public costs and raise revenue under an EU/IMF bailout deal.

It also enraged many who are already furious over the failure of consecutive governments to crack down on the rich while years of recession have wiped out a fifth of economic output and hammered middle-class living standards. » | Renee Maltezou | ATHENS | Writing by Michael Winfrey, Editing by Michael Roddy | Thursday, November 01, 2012

Greek Journalist Arrested Over Exposing Politicians' Alleged Tax Evasion
Greek police have arrested one of the country's top journalists, after his publication Hot Doc released the so-called 'Lagarde list,' containing the names of some 2,000 Greeks with funds hidden in Swiss bank accounts.

The police arrested Kostas Vaxevanis, the owner and editor of Hot Doc, during a live radio interview on Sunday. "They're entering my house with the prosecutor right now. They are arresting me. Spread the word," Vaxevanis tweeted.

Greek Journalists Being 'Muzzled by Government'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Greek journalists caught up in a wave of sackings and arrests believe they have be[en] targeted in a government drive to muzzle the press to prevent publication of a list of senior ministers who have taken bribes from the business sector.

Spiros Karatzaferis, a television presenter, became the latest journalist to face police action in the early hours of Wednesday morning when he was arrested hours after promising to reveal hacked treasury documents that would show Greek officials had systematically deceived the International Monetary Fund about the true state of the economy.

Mr Karatzaferis is the second high profile journalist to be arrested in a week, while a state broadcaster separately sacked two of his rivals for discussing other allegations against the government.

Kostas Vaxevanis, the first journalist arrested, faces court on Thursday morning on a charge of violating privacy laws for publishing the names of overseas bank account holders.

Mr Vaxevanis faces two years in prison for publishing the names and occupations of more than 2,000 Greeks allegedly holding accounts at the Swiss branch of HSBC.

Mr Vaxevanis told the Daily Telegraph that he was being sacrificed by a government manoeuvring behind the scenes to protect an unholy establishment alliance. "This is a selective prosecution," he said. "There is no Greek who believes that I am going [on] trial tomorrow, rather, it is the right that Greeks have to freedom of the press and the right to rock the system. Greece is run by a closed oligarchy of businessmen, politicians and controlled media groups. My publication of the list marked a confrontation, an extreme confrontation. » | Damien McElroy, Anthee Carassava in Athens | Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Tunisians Savour Taste of Freedom After Ben Ali Ousted
BBC NEWS AFRICA: A week ago writing an article for the BBC would have been a sacking offence for Tunisian journalists, writes Haykel Tlili - who works for Le Temps paper, owned by the ex-president's son-in-law. Here he assesses how Tunisians are taking to changing times.

Since the overthrow of President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali last week the people of Tunisia wake up each day in what still seems to be a dream.

Sometimes this turns to a nightmare with the sound of gunfire, something Tunisians are unaccustomed to hearing.
But there is a tangible sense of joy and pride that people feel about the popular uprising.

They are determined not to let what has been dubbed the "Jasmine Revolution" falter as the country accustoms itself to the change of guard.

Change and all that it heralds is being savoured across Tunisia like the smell of the sweet jasmine flower as it opens at night. >>> | Wednesday, January 19, 2011

WikiLeaks: Julian Assange Accuses Barack Obama Of Trying To Stifle Press Freedom
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, accused President Barack Obama of trying to stifle press freedom.

He said the Obama administration had a record of arresting whistle-blowers and had become “a regime that doesn’t believe in the freedom of the press and doesn’t act like it believes it”.

Mr Assange, 39, made the comments in a short mobile phone video which he filmed from a secret location in London. He stayed out of the spotlight, in contrast to his high-profile press conferences accompanying earlier releases on his website, after being made the subject of an international arrest warrant over allegations of rape. >>> Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter | Tuesday, November 30, 2010