The News Media & The Law, No 35:3: Journalists, Whistleblowers and National Security (2011)
Filed under journal | Tags: · diplomacy, journalism, law, mass media, media, security, transparency, wikileaks
Despite a major victory for source protection, recent prosecutions indicate a government clampdown on whistleblowers.
Publisher Lucy A. Dalglish, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Summer 2011
Editor Gregg P. Leslie
Managing Editor Peter Haldis
Contributing Editor Mark Caramanica
Contributors Christine Beckett, Derek D. Green, Clara Hogan, Aaron Mackey, Emily Peterson, Kristen Rasmussen
ISSN: 0149-0737
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Comment (0)Andrew O’Hagan: Julian Assange: The Unauthorised Autobiography (2011)
Filed under book | Tags: · activism, biography, computing, cypherpunk, diplomacy, hacking, internet, media activism, military, politics, war, wikileaks
“In December 2010, Julian Assange signed a contract with Canongate Books to write a book – part memoir, part manifesto – for publication the following year. At the time, Julian said: ‘I hope this book will become one of the unifying documents of our generation. In this highly personal work, I explain our global struggle to force a new relationship between the people and their governments.’
In the end, the work was to prove too personal.
Despite sitting for more than fifty hours of taped interviews discussing his life and the work of WikiLeaks with the writer he had enlisted to help him, Julian became increasingly troubled by the thought of publishing an autobiography. After reading the first draft of the book at the end of March, Julian declared: ‘All memoir is prostitution.’ In June 2011, with thirty-eight publishing houses around the world committed to releasing the book, Julian told us he wanted to cancel his contract.
We disagree with Julian’s assessment of the book. We believe it explains both the man and his work, underlining his commitment to the truth. Julian always claimed the book was well written; we agree, and this also encouraged us to make the book available to readers. And the contract? By the time Julian wanted to cancel the deal he had already used the advance money to settle his legal bills. So the contract still stands. We have decided to honour it – and to publish.
This book is the unauthorised first draft. It is passionate, provocative and opinionated – like its author. It fulfils the promise of the original proposal and we are proud to publish it.” (publisher)
Ghostwritten by Andrew O’Hagan
Publisher Canongate Books, September 2011
ISBN 085786386X, 9780857863867
352 pages
review (David Leigh, Guardian)
review (James Ball, New Statesman)
review (Economist)
PDF (MOBI; updated on 2012-8-5)
Comment (0)Daniel Domscheit-Berg: Inside WikiLeaks: My Time at the World’s Most Dangerous Website (2011)
Filed under book | Tags: · activism, diplomacy, internet, media activism, military, politics, war, wikileaks
What has been made public so far about WikiLeaks is only a small fraction of the truth. With his insider knowledge, Daniel Domscheit-Berg is uniquely able to tell the full story.
Since its launch in 2006, WikiLeaks has rapidly grown into the most powerful and influential whistleblowing organisation ever. Its status as a repository and publisher of leaked sensitive and confidential documents — while preserving the anonymity and untraceability of its contributors — as well as the statements and behaviour of its leader, Julian Assange, have made WikiLeaks daily front-page news and a topic of enormous controversy.
In this eye-opening account, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, who joined WikiLeaks in its early days and became its spokesman, reveals never-disclosed details about the inner workings of the organisation that has struck fear into governments and businesses worldwide. He also provides a remarkably up-close portrait of Julian Assange himself.
Under the pseudonym Daniel Schmitt, Domscheit-Berg was effectively No. 2 at WikiLeaks and the organisation’s most public face after Julian Assange. In this book, he tells the backstories of major leaks, and reveals the evolution, finances, and inner tensions of the whistleblower organisation, beginning with his first meeting with Assange in December 2007. He also describes what led to his September 2010 withdrawal from WikiLeaks, including his disenchantment with the organisation’s lack of transparency, its abandonment of political neutrality, and Assange’s increasing concentration of power.
Publisher Scribe Publications, 2011
ISBN 1921844051, 9781921844058
305 pages
PDF (EPUB; updated on 2012-8-5)
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