Pentagon

Military Reverses Short-Lived Ban on Photos of Afghanistan Deaths

Stevie Converse — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:12:05 -0400

Full article: Photo District New
Daryl Lang
The U.S. command in Afghanistan that last month banned pictures of military personnel killed in action has reversed its policy. The change came as the Pentagon called the ban an "isolated incident" amid media scrutiny.

Listen: Pentagon's Secret Journalist Profiling Program Revealed

Stevie Converse — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:05:59 -0400

The Pentagon has been compiling secret background profiles of journalists seeking to embed with the military, the newspaper Stars & Stripes reported last month.

Stars & Stripes' Kevin Baron on Continuing the Embedded Journalism Program Investigation

Stevie Converse — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:24:01 -0400

The Pentagon has been compiling secret background profiles of journalists seeking to embed with the military, the newspaper Stars & Stripes reported last month.

Military Prepares Profiles on Reporters Visiting War Zones

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:18:04 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Ann Scott Tyson
The U.S. military in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere regularly assesses the content and tone of the work of individual reporters to prepare for trips and interviews by those reporters, according to defense and military officials. But the officials denied that the analysis has been used to exclude journalists from embedding with troops.

Pentagon: Reporter Profiling Under Review

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:07:27 -0400

Full article: Stars and Stripes
Kevin Baron
Under fire following revelations that a military command in Afghanistan is compiling profiles of reporters covering U.S. military operations, Pentagon officials acknowledged that they were reviewing the practice even as they maintained that they were not making use of grades assigned to reporters' work by a Pentagon contractor.

Files Prove Pentagon Is Profiling Reporters

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:10:07 -0400

Full article: Stars & Stripes
Charlie Reed, Kevin Baron and Leo Shane III
Contrary to the insistence of Pentagon officials that they are not rating the work of reporters covering troops in Afghanistan, <em>Stars and Stripes</em> has obtained documents that prove that reporters' coverage is being graded. The documents indicate that the ratings are intended to help the Pentagon manipulate the types of stories that reporters produce while they are embedded with troops in Afghanistan.

What's on the Pentagon's Mind? Facebook

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:22:30 -0400

Full article: Los Angeles Times
Julian E. Barnes
The burning question in the hallways of the Pentagon has been: Will Adm. Michael G. Mullen have to take down his Facebook page and stop tweeting? The Pentagon has launched a study of social networking websites and tools, part of an effort to craft policies on how the military should utilize services such as Twitter, MySpace and Facebook.

Remember That Excuse for Not Showing Coffins Coming Home from War? Turns Out Families OK with It

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:00:20 -0400

Full article: Associated Press
Since the Pentagon ended a ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning, most families have allowed journalists to witness the solemn ceremonies that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases. Critics had warned that military families needed privacy but so far the coverage has not caused problems.

New Military Command to Focus on Cybersecurity

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:37:51 -0400

Full article: Wall Street Journal
Siobhan Gorman and Yochi J. Dreazen
The Obama administration plans to create a new military command to coordinate the defense of Pentagon computer networks and improve offensive capabilities in cyberwarfare, according to current and former officials familiar with the plans.

Congressman's Twittering Raises Security Concerns

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:07:47 -0500

Full article: Associated Press
Anne Flaherty
The top Republican on the House intelligence committee landed in hot water after using his Twitter page to update the public on his whereabouts while traveling through Iraq and Afghanistan. The revelation prompted the Pentagon to review its policy, which regards such information as sensitive.