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Ombudsman blog archive

Reporting Restraints Eased

By Mark J. Prendergast
Published: December 21, 2010

Defense Media Activity, the Pentagon agency that encompasses Stars and Stripes, has
withdrawn a memo that it sent out Dec. 10 limiting the ability of this independent news organization's professional journalists to fully do their jobs.

"The Security Advisory distributed on December 10, 2010, regarding WikiLeaks is hereby
rescinded," the DMA said today in a one-sentence e-mail distributed to all employees and contractors who operate under its aegis.

The sound of silence

By Mark J. Prendergast
Published: December 20, 2010

2nd UPDATE: The column "Now comes don't read, don't tell" will not be published in tomorrow's (Tuesday's) editions. That's because the senior editor of Stars and Stripes, Terry Leonard, is still asserting authority over the ombudsman's work that goes beyond the "spelling and space" standard I was assured would be in place earlier today. I won't consent to publication until agreement on this point is reached. The integrity of the ombudsman's work is at stake, future as well as present. The column continues to be available to readers here.

1st UPDATE: The director of Defense Media Activity informed me by e-mail at 9:33 a.m. today that Stars and Stripes had told him that my column challenging new restraints on this newspaper's journalists would be published in tomorrow's (Tuesday's) editions. The director, Mel Russell, further informed me that he had been assured that my work would be edited for "spelling and space only."

Now comes don't read, don't tell

By Mark J. Prendergast
Published: December 17, 2010

The editorial independence of Stars and Stripes and its readers’ right to news free of censorship are being threatened by an overly broad and misdirected response to the Wikileaks debacle.

Call it don’t read, don’t tell.

 
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Ernie Gates

Stars and Stripes ombudsman

As a journalist for more than three decades, Ernie Gates has been a reporter, editor and news executive, including 10 years leading the enterprising print and digital newsroom of Tribune Co.’s Daily Press in Hampton Roads, Va.

News for and about service members, families and veterans has always been a key focus in Hampton Roads, where every branch of the armed services has a significant presence.

As vice president and editor, Ernie was responsible for all news, business, features and sports coverage and oversaw the editorial page. He also wrote the daily Feedback column, responding to readers’ questions and comments about coverage, news judgment, journalism ethics, taste and other issues. Representing the paper as a public speaker, he focused on News Values and Credibility.

He is a past president of the Virginia Press Association and a past chairman of Virginia Associated Press Newspapers. 

Since leaving the Daily Press in 2010, Ernie has stayed active in public affairs. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Lewis B. Puller Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic at the William & Mary Law School.  He is also serves on the Coalition Partners Advisory Panel of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government.

Ernie and his wife, Betsy, live in Williamsburg, Va. They have three adult children.

Ernie Gates can be reached at ombudsman@stripes.osd.mil or (202) 761-0587.

Follow ombudsman Ernie Gates on Twitter


The ombudsman

Congress created the post in the early 1990’s to ensure that Stars and Stripes journalists operate with editorial independence and that Stars and Stripes readers receive a free flow of news and information without taint of censorship or propaganda.

The ombudsman serves as an autonomous watchdog of Stars and Stripes’ First Amendment rights. Anyone who fears those rights are imperiled should alert the ombudsman.

The ombudsman is also the readers’ representative to the newsroom. Readers who think a journalistic issue or event was misrepresented or ignored or who feel complaints were not properly addressed by Stripes reporters or editors should contact the ombudsman.

 

Ombudsman blog archive