U.S. Military Readers Are Looking For News Sources Since The Demise Of 'The Early Bird'

A copy of the Early Bird, a Pentagon newsletter. New York Times

With Demise Of Pentagon’s ‘Early Bird,’ Military Readers Hunt Bootleg Copies Of ‘Morning News’ -- Washington Times

The Defense Department has terminated its daily compilation of military-related news reports and opinion articles — called the “Early Bird” — in favor of a more restrictive press-clipping service for only the top brass.

The demise of the million-circulation “must read” for bureaucrats, politicians, industrialists and journalists has sparked complaints.

Hundreds of thousands of loyal readers have lost a concise morning view of what’s happening in national security. And they can’t subscribe to its successor, “Morning News,” which is provided only to the 300 most powerful leaders inside the Pentagon.

“People come up and say, ‘I’m not getting the “Morning News.” Can I?’ ” says Army Col. Steven Warren, director of Pentagon press operations. “And I make a determination. Essentially, the cut line is, ‘Are you a senior leader?’ “

Col. Warren, who made the “Early Bird” disappear, recites a list of reasons for why the Early Bird lost its edge in the Internet age.

Read more ....

My Comment: A good review on the demise of "The Early Bird" can be read here. As to limiting the Pentagon's newest news aggregator to only 300 readers .... I say why? As to what is my own take on "The Morning News" .... if anyone can email me a "bootleg copy", it would be appreciated.