11 September 2014

Soldiers now need permission from press officers to speak to journalists – even if they’re related

Heading to Sunday dinner with the familer? You’d better tell a forces press officer first if your cousin works for the local paper.

By Media Mole

(Photo By A British soldier reads a newspaper at a base in the southern city of Barsa, 500 kms from Baghdad 26 May 2005. Photo: Getty Images)

Our friends at the Press Gazette have a bizarre scoop today – new rules mean that anyone working in the armed services has to get permission before they’re allowed to speak to a journalist, even if the journalist is a relative or friend, and they’re just hanging out down the pub:

The rules state that when a member of the armed forces has any contact with a journalist they must immediately notify press officers.

This applies even if a member of armed forces staff meets a journalist socially, or through their family.

The rules don’t just apply to journalists, they also apply if a soldier should accidently come into contact with any individuals who are known to have close links with the media – such as “academics, representatives of industry and think-tanks”.

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