Stars and Stripes Editor Dismissed Amid Concerns Over Editorial Independence

The Pentagon dismissed Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, along with its publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte, on Friday. Slavin stated he was fired for insubordination following a CBS interview in which he expressed concerns about potential censorship by the U.S. military. He emphasized the importance of editorial independence for the publication, which is partly funded by the Pentagon. Lederer announced his retirement effective at the end of September, citing a fundamental difference in leadership philosophy with the Department of Defense. The Pentagon has been increasingly focused on exerting editorial control, as noted by recent firings, including that of Jacqueline Smith, the newspaper's ombudsman, in April. The future role of Navy Capt. William Urban, who was recently appointed as deputy publisher, remains unclear.