Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings has still not been told what ground rules he broke when he wrote about Gen. Stanley McChrystal, ultimately leading to the general’s resignation. Yet a previously approved embed in Afghanistan with a unit that apparently has no problem with Hastings — and in fact invited him to embed — has been canceled due to those alleged broken rules. According to Stars & Stripes, the Pentagon scrapped the embed due to the “political fallout” over Hastings’ article.

But no one has denied the accuracy of the article, and the fallout came because of remarks McChrystal and his staff made about the civilian leadership of the war in Afghanistan. It seems ridiculous to assume that McChrystal, working for the first time with a Rolling Stone reporter, would not be savvy enough to ask his staff to keep it in check. The comments from McCrystal’s staff about superiors, including the president, were unacceptable behavior by military officers, according to the military’s own code. Yet the messenger appears to be catching the blame.

“It should come as no surprise to anybody if unit commanders in Afghanistan are apprehensive about doing work with this reporter in light of the previous experience that their commander had with this reporter,” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told Stripes. “You’re only as good as your word, and clearly they don’t believe his word is worth much.”

Hastings has said he broke no ground rules.

The Pentagon’s refusal coincides with an order from Defense Secretary Gates that all interviews be coordinated through the Pentagon public affairs shop, and with a three-page memo from Douglas Wilson, the new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, obtained by The Atlantic, that describes a need to better sell the war. They hope to do this by encouraging more big-picture reporting through senior-official briefings, and less down-and-dirty reporting of battles while embedded with the troops.

Not allowing Hastings — or any other journalist — to embed violates the military’s own stated rules to allow unbiased coverage in the war zone — good or bad. In addition to its role in trying to improve the relationship between the media and military, MRE was created in large part due to concerns that journalists would not be granted access to the war zone. That is precisely what has happened in Mr. Hastings’ case, and it has occurred on the basis of a vague and unsupportable allegation.

Military Reporters & Editors believes the Defense Department must state what ground rules Hastings violated, and we suggest that journalists be allowed to embed based on the rules established early in these wars, and not based on what story the military believes should be told.

Michael Hastings

Rolling Stones magazine writer who wrote the story on Gen. Stanley McCrystal will be the keynote speaker at our conference Nov. 4-5, 2010 in Washington D.C.

More details will be sent out soon, but plan on starting off with getting some CAR experience on Thursday afternoon followed by an evening reception. Then things really fire up on Friday.

Speaking of Hastings, the Pentagon rescinded its permission for him to embed with a unit in Afghanistan. For more info and to add your comments, visit the MRE site.

CAR session scheduled at conference
Not sure about your research skills? A computer assisted reporting workshop will help you gain those skills to make your work stand out. Learn how to use the top 20 national security databases, along with much more.

Stay tuned for more details.

The Arms Control Association, a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies, is seeking a full-time Managing Editor, a critical part of the small team that produces Arms Control Today, a monthly publication widely considered to be authoritative in its field.

The successful applicant would be expected to have a professional background involving some combination of the following: editing experience; journalistic reporting or similar experience in researching, writing, and fact-checking under time constraints; familiarity with issues of arms control, nonproliferation, and international security; and marketing acumen. The Managing Editor must be extremely detail-oriented, have strong personal and organizational skills, work well under deadlines, and have the ability both to follow direction and to improvise as needed to complete tasks.

The Arms Control Association is an equal opportunity employer that provides four weeks vacation, health insurance and other benefits, and after one year employment, contribution to a retirement plan. Salary range mid-thirties to upper forties, commensurate with experience.

To apply, e-mail cover letter, resume, and two or three clips or similar short writing samples to jobs@armscontrol.org. Please put “Managing Editor” in the subject field. Position will remain open until filled; review of applications will begin on August 18. No calls, please.

Additional details at: http://www.armscontrol.org/about/managingeditor

Description:

The Air Force Association is seeking an entry-level defense reporter for Air Force Magazine’s print and online editions. Duties include reporting, writing, proofing, and editing Air Force-related news items. Military experience beneficial, but not required. Send resume and salary requirement to jlee@afa.org. No phone calls.

Fulltime
Location: Arlington, Va.

Description:

Defense News, the authoritative, global newsweekly is looking for reporters driven to break news, blanket their beats and establish themselves as leading authorities on programs, policies, people and business. Stories may take you from the Pentagon to Fort Bragg, N.C., from Paris to Singapore.

The successful candidates must have track records of digging up stories, spotting trends and delivering enterprise pieces. You will join our 100-person newsroom and a highly collaborative environment where sharp minds come together to produce award-winning work for 10 publications and a range of specialized websites.

You must have at least three years’ experience. A plus but not a requirement: experience covering the defense industry, wire reporting, business reporting, military service.

Tell us why you are the best qualified person for this front-line job. Send resume, clips and a cover letter to: resumes@atpco.com. 

Fulltime
Location: Springfield, Va.

By Anne Gearan – The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The author of the Rolling Stone article that ended the military career of Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former top commander in Afghanistan, has been denied permission to join U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Defense Department spokesman Col. David Lapan told reporters that freelance writer Michael Hastings was rebuffed when he asked to accompany, or “embed,” with American forces next month.

Read the complete story at Military Times.

Let us know your thoughts on the MRE Forum.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Rolling Stone reporter denied embed after McChrystal piece (cnn.com)
• Michael Hastings’ embed permission is revoked (salon.com)
• Pentagon says Rolling Stone writer denied embed (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Michael Hastings, Reporter Whose Rolling Stone Article Felled McChrystal, Denied Afghan Embed (huffingtonpost.com)

The Telegraph, a McClatchy newspaper located in Macon, Ga., has an opening for a reporter to write about military issues and to cover Robins Air Force Base, the largest industrial employer in Middle Georgia with more than 20,000 military and civilian employees. Candidates with proven experience covering the military are highly preferred.

We will also consider candidates with knowledge of military affairs plus significant experience covering high profile stories, including investigative and in-depth enterprise work.

We seek a seasoned writer who can report not only authoritatively about the military, but clearly translate military and Defense Department developments for both military and civilian readers.

Knowledge of the BRAC process would be a plus. Send or e-mail resume, relevant clips, references, and cover letter to: Sherrie Marshall, Editor, The Telegraph, 120 Broadway, Macon, GA. 31201, or smarshall@macon.com.

This candidate will be an employee of Patuxent, but will work under the direction of the military’s Public Affairs office. The ideal candidate would have some prior professional reporting experience in a newspaper environment as well as online and social media reporting skills. Must have knowledge of AP style and, good grammar and spelling. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, 401K, paid holidays and vacation. Pre-employment background check required. Qualified applicants must send resume with cover letter. Salary is upper $20s.

Company: Patuxent Publishing
Position: Seeking reporter for military publication
Location: Ft. Meade, MD
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Upper $20K

A little boy sits and holds the hand of U.S. Army Sgt. Resolve Savage, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard, while he pulls security outside of a hospital during a medical capabilities program and humanitarian assistance supply hand out in the Nuristan province of Afghanistan June 28, 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Isaac A. Graham)

Daily Mail Reporter

Afghanistan has become the longest conflict in American history – surpassing even the Vietnam war.

Read the rest of this article at the Daily Mail Reporter.

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• Afghanistan Now America’s Longest War, Or Maybe Not (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Rep. John Conyers: Ending The Longest War (huffingtonpost.com)

By Katie Drummond
WIRED

Despite billions in research dollars and a vow to improve their handling of this war’s “signature wound,” the military’s ability to diagnose troops with traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, is “about as reliable as a coin flip.”

Read the rest of this article at Wired.com.