Quote of the Day

Traditionally, a journalist was recognized as someone who compiled information to be presented as news through a chosen medium. The transmission vessel could be a newspaper, a television or a radio.

. . . Now, new media [has] altered the idea altogether of who can be a journalist. I like to believe everyone can be and should be journalists. When we see something important, we should write about it, photograph it, or record audio and share it with as many people as possible.

That’s what both [Glenn] Greenwald and [Julian] Assange did. They held important information that showed ways the U.S. government was lying to the public, and revealed it. Assange showed the slaughter of civilians [by sharing via WikiLeaks information leaked by Bradley Manning]. Greenwald revealed spying on Americans [by reporting information leaked by Edward Snowden].

Both men took courageous leaps. As the mainstream media runs to the side of Greenwald and other traditionally recognized “watchdogs of democracy,” they should remember what happened to Assange. The next time reporters expose government lies, they too might be labeled "high-tech terrorist."

– J. Andres Araiza

"From Greenwald to Assange: Prosecuting Our Watchdogs of Democracy
Truth-Out.org
June 19, 2013

Related Off-site Links:
Greenwald Slams Obama Over Snowden Espionage Charges – Tracy Bloom (TruthDig.com, June 22, 2013).
NBC's David Gregory Attempts to Criminalize Glenn Greenwald – Alexander Reed Kelly (TruthDig.com, June 23, 2013).
Edward Snowden and the NSA Files – The Guardian, June 23, 2013).
Edward Snowden: Profile in Courage – Christopher H. Pyle (Common Dreams, June 10, 2013).
Support NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden, Says Julian Assange – Tom Dart (The Guardian, June 22, 2013).
Pelosi Critical of Snowden, Clashes With Left – David Weigel (Slate via Reader Supported News, June 23, 2013).
Edward Snowden Seeks Asylum in Ecuador Amid Diplomatic Storm – Tania Branigan, Miriam Elder and Nick Hopkins (The Guardian, June 23, 2013).
The Judicial Lynching of Bradley Manning – Chris Hedges (TruthDig.com, June 9, 2013).
The Bradley Manning Trial: Everything You Need to Know – Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai (Mashable.com, June 3, 2013).
Whistleblowing 2.0: From the Pentagon Papers to Bradley Manning to PRISM – Patrick McCurdy (Waging Nonviolence via Truth-Out.org, June 23, 2013).
Obama's Aversion to Leaks Channels Reagan – Kevin Gosztola (Salon via Reader Supported News, June 23, 2013).
Obama’s Second Term of Betrayals – Tremors of the Coming Revolt – Patrick Ayers (Socialist Alternative, June 23, 2013).
Obama, Cheney and Snowden’s Revelations – Bill Van Auken (World Socialist Web Site, June 19, 2013).
So When Will Dick Cheney Be Charged With Espionage? – Juan Cole (Reader Supported News, June 23, 2013).
For Obama, a World of Snowden Troubles – Warren Strobel and Paul Eckert (Reuters via Yahoo! News, June, 23, 2013).
The Deeper Meaning of Mass Spying in America – James Petras (Axis of Logic, June 15, 2013).
Understanding the Latest Leaks is Understanding the Rise of a New Fascism – John Pilger (JohnPilger.com, June 20, 2013).

UPDATES:
The Pursuit of Edward Snowden: Washington in a Rage, Striving to Run the World – Norman Solomon (Common Dreams, June 24, 2013).
Glenn Greenwald is 'Aiding and Abetting' Democracy – John Nichols (The Nation, June 24, 2013).
Demonizing Edward Snowden: Which Side Are You On? – John Cassidy (The New Yorker, June 24, 2013).

See also the previous Wild Reed post:
Progressive Perspectives on WikiLeaks

Image: "The Death of Truth" by Mr. Fish.