Former Stars and Stripes editor says firing was "real shock," hopes paper "can remain independent"
August 24, 2026 / 8:57 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Erik Slavin, former editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, was fired by the Pentagon, along with the publisher and a reporter.
- The stated reason for Slavin's firing was his appearance in a report discussing potential overhauls of the newspaper and his definition of censorship as a "red line."
- Stars and Stripes has historically prided itself on editorial independence, meaning the government does not dictate its content.
- The newspaper receives roughly half of its $29 million annual budget from taxpayers.
- Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell previously stated plans to "modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members."
- A new military deputy to the publisher, Navy Capt. William Urban, has stated priorities include producing "the highest quality of editorially independent reporting."
- Slavin remains unsure how Urban's pledge of independence aligns with previous efforts to change the paper's operations.
- Reporter Lara Korte, also fired, expressed optimism about statements of editorial independence but noted it must be put into practice.
- The Pentagon had previously imposed new rules on reporters covering it, including restrictions on "soliciting" sensitive information, which many outlets declined to sign.
- A judge struck down many of those rules, and the military replaced them with a requirement for journalists to be escorted within the Pentagon.
- Slavin fears a loss of frank communication between military officials and journalists, which he believes has historically contributed to the nation's knowledge of the U.S. military's actions.