Stars and Stripes: Inherent Conflicts Lead to Allegations of Military Censorship
NSIAD-89-60
Published: Dec 14, 1988. Publicly Released: Dec 14, 1988.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO investigated allegations of censorship, news management, and command influence at the Stars and Stripes newspapers.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct that guidance be issued stating that: (1) Stars and Stripes shall have a civilian Editor-in-Chief whose term of office shall be fixed for a period of 3 to 5 years; (2) Stars and Stripes shall have editorial and news policy provisions that emphasize subjects of interest to the readership; (3) military officers shall not interfere with or attempt to influence news content; (4) investigative reporting is allowed; and (5) content analyses, similar to the one GAO performed, shall be done on a periodic basis to ensure that U.S. troops in the two different parts of the world are exposed to approximately the same news from back home. Also, the new guidance should either abolish the advisory board or change its mission to help Stars and Stripes to report on news of interest to the readership. |
Closed – Implemented
Instruction 5120.4 is being replaced by a new DOD directive, which should be published in 1993. Informal coordination is complete. DOD briefed the Joint Committee on Printing in July 1992. A draft of DOD Directive 5120.aa was published in the Federal register on August 5, 1993, for 30 days of public comment. All basic actions are complete except the issuance of the Directive which is imminent.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Agency missionsConstitutional rightsGovernment publicationsMilitary communicationMilitary personnelMilitary policiesPeriodicalsPublic relationsPublishingFreedom of the press