The Three Phases of WikiLeaks

The second day at ECREA 2014 starts with a paper by Christian Christensen, on WikiLeaks. He's interested in the implications of WikiLeaks for the wider media reform movement: WikiLeaks and Anonymous are an expression of the disenchantment with mainstream commercial media, even in spite of such media's occasional ability to engage in impactful investigative journalism.

The byproduct of the leaks has been the discussion of media reform. They have exposed the uncomfortably close relationship between government and the media, and the potential negative impacts of deregulation and the defunding of public service media. WikiLeaks has gone through the distinct phases, in its relationship with the media: first, it was an alternative to the mainstream, with ultimately low-impact but important leaks being revealed through the site itself; second, the release of widely circulated leaked information in a coordinated, strategically choreographed effort with a range of leading media organisations around the world; and third, a very strained relationship with the mainstream media, including the strategic partners, significant economic strife due to corporate embargoes, and the various legal actions against WikiLeaks and Assange.

Each of these phases have implications for media reform. The first shows the lack of mainstream media interest even in important leaked stories being revealed by the site. The second raises questions over what is journalism and who is a journalist – is Assange protected as a journalist by the U.S. Constitution, for example; is WikiLeaks a source or a collaborator for its MSM partners; how much do groups like WikiLeaks need to be funded and regulated to protect the leakers? The third shows especially the severe intimidation of whistleblowers, especially in the U.S. – Chelsea Manning was charged with aiding the enemy, for example, while The Guardian's staff were harassed and its computers seized and destroyed.