Stars and Stripes staff assert editorial independence amid Pentagon firings

Lara Korte, a reporter for Stars and Stripes, affirmed to one outlet that the newspaper’s editorial independence remains essential even as the Pentagon moves to fire Publisher Max Lederer, Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin, and Korte herself for alleged insubordination. The cited insubordination relates to interviews given to one outlet about a July broadcast. Korte argued that speaking to other outlets is routine and known to her editors, and she stresses that her work serves the military community, not the Pentagon or policymakers.

She noted no pressure to change stories or publish Pentagon-written pieces, and highlighted the paper’s tradition of independence. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the agency aims to modernize the outlet and shift its focus away from “woke distractions.” Stars and Stripes, funded partly by taxpayers, continues to provide news to service members, especially in remote areas with limited internet access.