The Pentagon has dismissed Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte, citing insubordination after the two publicly opposed potential interference in the military newspaper's editorial independence.
The dismissals were announced Friday and also affected Max Lederer, the newspaper's publisher, who had recently announced plans to retire, according to The Associated Press report. The announcement comes amid growing tensions between Stars and Stripes leadership and the Pentagon over the outlet's independence and editorial direction.
According to the AP, Slavin said he received a notice of separation after speaking publicly against the possibility of military censorship.
Who is Erik Slavin?
Slavin was the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper that is partly funded by the Pentagon and has long operated with editorial independence.
Slavin said he was fired for insubordination after giving an interview in which he objected to hypothetical censorship of news provided to US service members.
{{/usCountry}}Slavin said he was fired for insubordination after giving an interview in which he objected to hypothetical censorship of news provided to US service members.
{{/usCountry}}“I stand by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent, as required by law and by the department’s own policies,” Slavin said, according to the AP report.
Further on X, Slavin posted, “It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as a journalist with Stars and Stripes for 21 years, including nearly a year as editor‑in‑chief, providing independent reporting to America’s service members and families."
“I'll have more to say in the future. For now, I appreciate the encouragement and support I've received from so many people today,” another post on X added.
The firing followed a period of mounting friction between the newspaper and Pentagon leadership. Earlier this year, the Pentagon also dismissed the paper's ombudsman, Jacqueline Smith, whose role included safeguarding editorial independence.
Who is Lara Korte?
Lara Korte was a Middle East reporter for Stars and Stripes. She was dismissed alongside Slavin after participating in the same CBS interview.
In a post on X, Korte said she had been informed that the Defense Department was firing her for insubordination after she told a CBS reporter that she worked for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon, the administration or any policymaker.
“Today, I was informed that the Department of Defense is firing me for insubordination after I told a CBS reporter that I work for Stars and Stripes – not the Pentagon, not any administration, and not any policy maker,” her post read.
Her dismissal has added to concerns raised by media organizations and press freedom advocates about the Pentagon's relationship with the military newspaper.
Mark Schoeff Jr., president of the National Press Club, called Slavin's firing “deeply troubling” and said the decision should be reversed.
The newspaper's publisher, Lederer, had announced plans to retire at the end of September after saying his understanding of Stars and Stripes' mission differed fundamentally from the direction Pentagon leadership wanted for the organization.
(With inputs from AP)