IFJ protest over US vetting of journalists covering Afghanistan conflict by PR firm

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned military vetting of journalists covering the Afghanistan conflict to see if they are sympathetic to the American cause.
It says journalists seeking to travel under the protection of US armed forces to report on military operations in Afghanistan may be screened by a Washington public relations firm commissioned by the Pentagon to determine whether media coverage portrays the US military in a positive light.
"This profiling of journalists further compromises the independence of media," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "It strips away any pretence that the army is interested in helping journalists to work freely. It suggests they are more interested in propaganda than honest reporting."
The IFJ affiliate organisations in the US have added their voices to the protest.