Thomson Reuters withdraws from British armed forces pledge as staff objects

The Thomson Reuters Corporation, the parent company of international news organisation Reuters, has pulled out of a pledge to support the British armed forces after complaints from current and former staff that such a move will compromise the agency’s reputation for being “independent”, Reuters reported.

Concerns were raised that the decision could come across as Reuters’ support towards the British armed forces or its foreign police, which could in turn endanger reporters and other employees working in other countries.

According to the report, Thomson Reuters had on August 31 signed the British Armed Forces Covenant, which pledges to help and support veterans and their families as well as those serving in the British armed forces.

“We have decided we must withdraw our signature to preserve the safety and neutrality of our reporters,” a spokesperson from Thomson Reuters said in a statement released via email on Wednesday. “The covenant is not affiliated with any political party and the initiative was signed with the best intentions, but our participation led to concerns that such a public pledge could undermine the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles and compromise the newsroom's independence and safety of our journalists.”