WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. released the following statement today:
“The firing of Erik Slavin, editor of Stars and Stripes, is another brazen attempt by the Pentagon to dictate coverage of the military and should be immediately reversed.
Firing a newspaper editor after he publicly defended his newsroom’s editorial independence is deeply troubling, and it should concern every journalist and every member of the U.S. military who depends on independent reporting.
This is an assault on the fundamental principle that journalists must be free to report the news without fear of retaliation from the government officials they cover. The Pentagon must reaffirm that principle and make clear that Stars and Stripes journalists will not be punished for doing their jobs.
Today’s action comes on the heels of Stars and Stripes’ publisher Max Lederer’s resignation announcement, in which he asserted his values and understanding of the mission of the outlet “differ in fundamental ways from the direction of the leadership of the Department of Defense.” The Defense Department also sent him a separation notice today.
This disturbing pattern follows the firing in April of the global news organization’s ombudsman, a role established and charged by Congress to provide independent oversight and protect the paper’s editorial integrity, and a March memo that asserted content restrictions and expanded Pentagon oversight of the newsroom.
For more than 150 years, Stars and Stripes has served a unique and vital role: delivering independent, fact-based reporting to U.S. service members, many serving our country far from their homes and in harm’s way.
In firing the editor of Stars and Stripes, Pentagon leadership is making clear their view that the newsroom should exist not as an independent outlet whose reporting serves to benefit U.S. troops, but as a mouthpiece to parrot Pentagon talking points.
Our service members deserve news and information they can trust, not narratives that are shaped solely by their own employer. Our military — and the public — deserve better.”
About the National Press Club
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Contact: Dan Griffin, Communications Director of the National Press Club, media@press.org.
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SOURCE National Press Club
