NY Times Bill Keller on why we should defend Wikileaks

[Luminous Animal]

http://gigaom.com/2012/07/25/the-nyts-bill-keller-on-why-we-should-defend-wikileaks/

In a post on Tuesday entitled “First they came for WikiLeaks, then the New York Times,” we wrote about how there is growing evidence that Congress and the Justice Department may be considering legal sanctions against traditional journalists who publish classified information — in other words, extending the kind of legal attacks they have been making on WikiLeaks to the traditional media such as the New York Times. In an emailed response to that post, former NYT executive editor Bill Keller said he strongly agrees that an attack on WikiLeaks’ right to publish such leaked documents is an implicit attack on the media as a whole, and that the mainstream media should protest any prosecution of the organization as a betrayal of the First Amendment.

In my post, I described how some members of a House Judiciary subcommittee seemed to be looking to experts for legal grounds under which they could charge journalists for publishing leaked classified information. The Department of Justice has also reportedly been warning reporters that if they publish such documents they could face prosecution — in the same way the DoJ is said to be pursuing a case against WikiLeaks and its controversial founder Julian Assange under the Espionage Act, (despite the fact that the government’s own researchers say using the act to go after journalists instead of leakers is a questionable strategy).

....

As he put it:

"I’ve said repeatedly, in print and in a variety of public forums, that I would regard an attempt to criminalize WikiLeaks’ publication of these documents as an attack on all of us, and I believe the mainstream media should come to his defense."

Keller went on to say that despite the rumblings from Congress that I referred to in my post, the government so far hasn’t made an official move against either Julian Assange or WikiLeaks. If a prosecution under the Espionage Act did in fact occur, Keller said he hoped to see news organizations of all kinds and press-freedom advocacy groups “filing briefs and otherwise objecting.” The NYT’s former executive editor also admitted that the newspaper’s relationship with Assange had been fractious, but said that personal feelings about the WikiLeaks founder shouldn’t prevent media organizations from coming to his defence:

[sabrina 1]

1. Now let the rest of our cowardly 'press' speak up in defense of the 4th Estate. But I

doubt they will. Just as they remained silent regarding the Iraq War and torture and all the other Bush policies that have eaten away at this country's democratic principles.

If Wikileaks is prosecuted, it would be a travesty for what America prides itself on, erroneously as it turns out, freedom of the press. Even worse, Wikileaks is an International News Org so the question is what right would this country have to prosecute an International News Org. doing nothing different than what News Orgs are supposed to do and have done, including the NYT? What a chilling effect that would have on the free press everywhere.

But good for him for starting the conversation. It will be interesting to see who backs him up as he is correct.

[Luminous Animal]

2. Thanks for the kick, sabrina.

[sabrina 1]

3. You're welcome. This is one of the more interesting OPs I've seen in days on DU so thank you

for posting it.

Too bad that the 1st Amendment gets so little attention while the 2nd Amendment generates thousands and thousands of comments. You would think that at least on the 'left' the threat to the freedom of the press would be a huge issue.

I am glad to see that Keller at least has spoken out about it, opening the door for more so-journalists to back him up.

I got some negative feed-back a few days ago for saying that we 'get the government we deserve' or the one we fight for.

But the silence on this most important Consitutional Issue that has been playing out around the world, speaks volumes imo.

We are all way too busy with 'politics' to bother about such things as the Constitution it seems. I got involved in politics because I thought this is what it was about. Big mistake on my part it seems.

[sabrina 1]

4. I tweeted this, but it doesn't show in the twitter window. I've noticed that before after I tweet

something. I know it went through though. Just wondering why it is not showing up in the window.