VIDEO: War, Journalism and Whistleblowers: 15 years after Katharine Gun’s truth telling – Press Conference 1 March 2018
from Insofar Media on Vimeo.
Press conference held the day before the 15th anniversary of the Observer’s publication of the March 2, 2003 story “US dirty tricks to win vote on Iraq war” — based on a leak by GCHQ linguist and analyst Katharine Gun – revealing the US National Security Agency’s UN surveillance memo that aimed to grease the way for the Iraq invasion.
Speakers: Thomas Drake; Katharine Gun; Matthew Hoh; Jesselyn Radack
Moderated by Norman Solomon
Press Conference – 1 March 2018
Sponsored by ExposeFacts and RootsAction.org
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The Whistleblower Interview Project is a documentary archive of interviews with people who have made disclosures in the public interest. In these interviews they discuss why and how they blew the whistle, the consequences of their actions, and what their feelings are now.
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Launched by the Institute for Public Accuracy in June 2014, ExposeFacts.org represents a new approach for encouraging whistleblowers to disclose information that citizens need to make truly informed decisions in a democracy. From the outset, our message is clear: “Whistleblowers Welcome at ExposeFacts.org.”
ExposeFacts aims to shed light on concealed activities that are relevant to human rights, corporate malfeasance, the environment, civil liberties and war. At a time when key provisions of the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments are under assault, we are standing up for a free press, privacy, transparency and due process as we seek to reveal official information—whether governmental or corporate—that the public has a right to know.
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By suing WikiLeaks, DNC could endanger principles of press freedom
In 1993, WILK radio host Frederick Vopper broadcast a conversation intercepted by an illegal wiretap and sent anonymously to the Pennsylvania radio station, in which two teachers union officials discussed violent negotiating tactics. The officials sued Vopper, arguing that he should be liable for the illegal wiretap that captured their comments. But the Supreme Court disagreed. As Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in the Bartnicki v. Vopper decision, “A stranger’s illegal conduct does not suffice to remove the First Amendment shield from speech about a matter of public concern.”