Sofia Cantú Sauceda 
Draya Rios/THE RIDER
A communication professor with 25 years of experience at UTRGV said the way news is being organized is “largely concerning” after the Department of War, also known as the Department of Defense, introduced new restrictions on press coverage.
Under the updated policy, members of the news media must not publish information unless it has been cleared for release by an authorized department official. Reporters seeking access to Pentagon offices or interview areas must also be escorted by department personnel, according to an Oct. 6 memorandum.
Gregory Selber, a communication professor, said the policy can create a barrier between reporters and true information.
“If you pick the people that come to cover you, then, you’re probably going to get favorable coverage,” Selber said.
Mark Kaswan, a professor in the school of political science, public affairs, legal and security studies, said the restrictions reflect a growing effort to control how information is shared with the public.
“The Trump administration generally has been quite chaotic in some of their communication,” Kaswan said. “… This reflects an attempt to establish control of the line.”
Selber added no one has been this “bold” to get people in or out.
“It’s kind of fascinating to see,” he said. “I never thought anything like this would happen.”
Kaswan said the media has always had a “difficult” relationship with the president.
“But that’s actually a good thing,” he said. “The last thing that you want is for journalists to just take what they’re told and not give any greater scrutiny.”
Under the new policy, the press is not prohibited from investigating, reporting or publishing anything related to the U.S. military, but it could be seen as a “security or safety risk” if it has Classified National Security Information or Controlled Unclassified Information, according to the memorandum.
It also mentions the “receipt and publication” of unsolicited or classified information is “generally” protected by the First Amendment and would not mean the “denial, revocation or non-renewal” of a Pentagon Facilities Alternative Credential.
“If you solicit the disclosure of such information or otherwise encourage DoW personnel to violate laws and policies concerning the disclosure of such information, such conduct may weigh in the consideration of whether you pose a security or safety risk,” according to the memorandum.
In it, the Pentagon describes solicitations as direct communication with DoW personnel, such as calls for tips to encourage disclosure of non-public information or public advertisement on social media posts.
Kaswan said the policy appears to violate the “constitutional provision” of the First Amendment.
“The job of the media … is not to just repeat what the administration wants to be repeated,” he said. “The job is to identify what the administration does not want people to know.”
Selber said there will not be accountability or transparency if the press is restricted.
“It’s an emotional judgment by the powers to limit the people they don’t agree with from having a chance to criticize them,” he said. “That’s not really the American way.”
Selber added the moment is showing totalitarian tendencies in the U.S. by limiting the free flow of information and “that has been shown problematic.”
He advised aspiring journalists to not pick a team and keep the people in mind when doing the job.
“The journalist is supposed to be … disinterested, meaning … you tell it like it is, you talk to as many people as possible and let the reader make his or her mind up,” Selber said.
Kaswan said people should be “concerned” of any administration that does not want true information to be told.
“The closing of offices … of all kinds of issues that affect people in their daily lives … information about the health of the economy that might reflect badly on the Trump administration,” he said. “They shut it down as though digging our heads into the sand somehow protects us.”
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