英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new ‘pledge’ for reporters at the Pentagon（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, has introduced new rules for journalists. From now on, reporters must sign a pledge to report only information that has been approved and officially released by the Pentagon. This change has raised concerns about press freedom and the ability of journalists to report independently. The new guidelines are seen as a way to control the flow of information to the public and ensure that only the Pentagon’s version of events is shared.

Under these guidelines, journalists will have limited access to information and will be required to follow strict rules about what they can publish. The move has been criticized by media rights organizations, who argue that it undermines the role of a free press in a democratic society. They believe that journalists must be able to investigate and report without interference to hold the government accountable.

Defense Secretary Hegseth, who announced the new guidelines, argues that they are necessary for national security. He says that by controlling the information that is released to the public, the Pentagon can ensure that sensitive material does not end up in the wrong hands. However, critics worry that this could lead to censorship and a lack of transparency.

The changes come at a time when trust in the media is already low, and many people are concerned about the spread of misinformation. By restricting what journalists can report, the Pentagon risks further damaging the public’s trust in the media. This decision could have a significant impact on how news is reported and consumed in the United States, and it may influence how other countries approach media regulations.

📝 Vocabulary

  • guideline: a rule or instruction that shows how something should be done
    例文: “The company has strict safety guidelines for all employees.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • follow guidelines
    • set guidelines
    • safety guidelines
    指針
  • pledge: a serious promise or agreement
    例文: “He made a pledge to support the new community project.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • make a pledge
    • break a pledge
    • pledge of support
    誓約
  • transparency: the quality of being done in an open way without secrets
    例文: “The government promised more transparency in its decision-making process.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • ensure transparency
    • lack of transparency
    • transparency report
    透明性
  • media: the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the internet) regarded collectively
    例文: “The story was widely covered by the media.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • social media
    • media coverage
    • media outlet
    メディア
  • censorship: the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security
    例文: “Many people oppose censorship in any form.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • oppose censorship
    • censorship laws
    • censorship board
    検閲

✏️ Grammar Point

Modal Verbs – “Reporters must sign a pledge to report only information that has been approved and officially released by the Pentagon.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
モーダル動詞は義務や可能性を示すのに使われます

💡 使用場面

モーダル動詞は、義務、許可、可能性、能力などを表す際に、会話やビジネスで使用されます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The new guidelines allow journalists to report any information they find.
  2. MCQ:
    a) To give journalists more freedom
    b) To control the flow of information
    c) To improve public trust in the media
    d) To help journalists access more information
  3. MCQ:
    a) They believe it will improve national security
    b) They think it undermines press freedom
    c) They agree with the Pentagon’s decision
    d) They have no opinion on the matter
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) To control the flow of information
  3. b) They think it undermines press freedom

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What must reporters do under the new Pentagon guidelines?
  2. Why do media rights organizations criticize the new guidelines?
  3. What does the word “pledge” mean in this context?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. Reporters must sign a pledge to report only approved information.
  2. They criticize it because it undermines press freedom.
  3. A serious promise or agreement

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

このニュースは、アメリカ国防総省が報道の自由に影響を与える可能性のある新たなガイドラインを導入したことに関連しています。このガイドラインでは、報道機関が承認された情報のみを報道することを求めていますが、これは情報の流れを制御しようとする試みと見られています。国内外でのこの動きは、報道の自由と情報の透明性に対する懸念を引き起こしており、民主主義の健全性に影響を与える可能性があります。将来的には、他国のメディア規制にも影響を与える可能性があり、情報の自由な流通と信頼性をどう守るかが問われています。

Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/09/20/g-s1-89713/pentagon-new-strict-guidelines-for-media

RELATED POST