Independence of Stars and Stripes

(a) Editorial independence requirement (1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that— (A) editorial policies and practices of the Stars and Stripes are in accordance with journalistic standards governing United States news media of the highest quality, with emphasis on matters of interest to the Stars and Stripes readership; (B) Stars and Stripes’ editorial operations are independent of the military chain of command, military public affairs activities, or other external influences, and without censorship or propaganda; (C) the Stars and Stripes Publisher remains a civilian government employee with independent professional news media experience, who manages and controls the day-to-day business and financial, operational, and administrative activities, and provides editorial oversight of Stars and Stripes; (D) Stars and Stripes’ reporters with access to Department of Defense installations are authorized to cover events or activities open to those with installation access even though commercial news media may not have the same unescorted access; (E) Stars and Stripes is a digital-first news organization but is also published in a print newspaper edition at a frequency and distribution determined by the Publisher to best serve its readership; and (F) except as provided in paragraph (3), the Stars and Stripes provides a free flow of news and information to its readership without news management or censorship from the Secretary of Defense or the Department of Defense. (2) Prohibition on withholding of unfavorable news The calculated withholding from publication in Stars and Stripes of news unfavorable to the Department of Defense, the military services, or the United States Government is prohibited. (3) Exceptions (A) In general Notwithstanding the requirement under paragraph (1), Stars and Stripes shall not publish original staff-produced news stories based upon classified information or publish information that clearly endangers the lives of United States personnel or would adversely affect national security. (B) Limitation The exceptions under subparagraph (A) may not be construed to permit the calculated withholding of news unfavorable to the Department of Defense, the military services, or the United States Government. Any security risk information shall not be withheld without concurrence from both the Stars and Stripes publisher and the relevant combatant commander. (4) Stars and stripes personnel The exclusion of civilian candidates for consideration for officer, journalist, or other Stars and Stripes staff positions is prohibited. (b) Stars and stripes ombudsman The Stars and Stripes Ombudsman is a highly qualified independent news media professional hired from outside of the DoD to serve a three-year term. The Stars and Stripes Ombudsman independently advises the Stripes Publisher and senior editorial leaders, DoD leadership and congressional oversight authorities on matters relating to audience interests, journalistic practices, editorial interference, news management, or censorship.