WASHINGTON, March 23 – National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. today issued the following statement after the Defense Department moved to shut down the Pentagon’s Correspondents’ Corridor and impose escorted access requirements for reporters in the wake of a court ruling on unlawful press restrictions:    “Closing the Correspondents’ Corridor and forcing escorted access undermines independent reporting at the Pentagon at a moment when the public needs clear, unfiltered information about the U.S. military.   For decades, that corridor has been central to independent reporting on the Pentagon. Eliminating it and requiring escorted access would sharply limit how journalists gather news, build sources and cover one of the most powerful institutions in government — reducing what the public is able to see and understand about decisions made in its name.   At a time when the United States is engaged in active military conflict, the public depends on journalists being able to observe, report and ask questions freely.    The court made clear that the government cannot impose unlawful restrictions on journalists. Replacing one barrier with another raises serious questions about whether the Pentagon is honoring the spirit of that ruling and whether the public is being denied the transparency it was meant to protect.   Independent reporting on the U.S. military is not optional. It is essential to accountability, transparency and public trust. Any policy that curtails that access should concern everyone who values a free and informed society.” About the National Press Club Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members, the Club, through its Press Freedom Center, is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide. Contact: Beth Francesco, Executive Director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, media@press.org