To be a messenger to the public, the information we relay has to be factual, accurate and above all, honest.

The heart of journalism lies in its commitment to the truth. In a time when public trust in the media is declining, this responsibility is more crucial than ever.

Recent restrictions on the press, aside from sparking outrage, have increased conversations on journalistic integrity, protections and trust.

The government’s attitude toward news and information shared with the press has grown increasingly hostile. This is evident in United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s new policy.

The memo detailed some of the limitations put on reporters.

“The Pentagon says it will require credentialed journalists at the military headquarters to sign a pledge to refrain from reporting information that has not been authorized for release — including unclassified information,” according to the Associated Press.

On the same day of the memo’s release, most of the Pentagon’s reporters turned in their press badges, refusing to adhere to restrictions placed on their work.

Major news and media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, The New York Times and The Associated Press, have refused to sign off on the new policy, marking it as a violation of press freedom.

Many of these outlets are often portrayed as reporting news from different sides of the polarized political spectrum.

The rejection of Hegseth’s policy highlights the core values and concerns of journalists, which go beyond the side they report on.

The main concern lies in the truth. An agreement with such a policy would take away from the core of journalism, reporting accurate and factual information to the public. Not only does the public have a right to know what goes on in the government and the world outside it, but journalists have a right to report it.

Delivering information through a limited lens that needs approval and is therefore controlled in its perception would go against the very basis of journalism.

It’s not about having complete access to the ins and outs of the Pentagon or certain information that may be considered ‘classified.’ It’s simple transparency. It is the responsibility of any ethical government to allow its people to look within its walls, with the press facilitating this access.

A limited press limits scrutiny. The public will likely not have many opportunities to question the actions of the government, creating room for corruption.

Journalism is integral in informing the masses. Restrictions on the freedom of the press and speech, even if they may not be deemed this way, are an attack on information itself. There won’t be a knowledgeable public if those who disperse and provide that knowledge are limited.

The other concern is trust. A relationship of trust functions as a foundation between the public and the press. This trust is at an all-time low. According to Gallup, less than three-tenths of U.S. adults have faith in news and media outlets for complete, fair, and accurate reporting. The government’s interference in reporting will only serve to heighten this existing mistrust.

At times like this, it’s crucial to recognize and uphold the integrity of your work. Refusing to bend values and definitions is at the core of this defense. To take away ethics is to take away the heart of journalism.