Leon E. Panetta

Secretary of Defense

1000 Defense Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20301 – 1000

March 6, 2012

Dear Secretary Panetta,

The Associated Press Media Editors association is opposed to the recent decision to move the Stars and Stripes offices from the National Press Building to a new location with Defense Media Activity at Ft. Meade, Maryland.

Stars and Stripes is the only military newspaper with a completely independent voice that serves our service men and women around the world. Its offices in the National Press Building have allowed the Stars and Stripes staff to work with other media outlets covering important news breaking in the nation’s capitol.

To remove the staff from that central location will impede their ability to cover the news in a timely fashion. It makes it difficult to respond to sources and have contact with legislators. In fact this move will have a chilling affect on the staff’s ability to cultivate and meet with any sources and legislators.

Relocating Stars and Stripes to Ft. Meade will lead readers, staff and the journalism community to believe that Stars and Stripes will no longer be free from government control or censorship. We hope that is not the real reason for the choice of the new location.

We respectfully ask that you reconsider this action.

APME supports Stars and Stripes battle to remain an independent voice.

Bob Heisse, President, Associated Press Media Editors 

Reid MacCluggage, Chair, Stars and Stripes board