Abstract

CSJ-11-0041.0 This case is about the celebrated collaboration between WikiLeaks, the secure website for whistleblowers, and the mainstream media— focusing on the British Guardian newspaper. It raises for discussion whether the Guardian and its international media partners were correct to collaborate with WikiLeaks and to publish US secret government documents. The case traces the history of the Guardian ’s relationship with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange through the summer and fall 2010 publication of confidential documents from the Afghan and Iraq battlefields, up through the eve of publishing a trove of classified diplomatic cables in November 2010. It also examines the relationship and logistics of coordinating five news organizations pledged to secrecy as they prepare to publish the cables simultaneously.

Use this case to discuss government/media relations—in this instance, is the US government a partner or an adversary? When is national security a reason not to publish? Students should also consider what constitutes journalism and who is a journalist. What is Assange? What rules should govern the Guardian ’s relationship with WikiLeaks?Also talk about international media collaboration. What principles are involved? Finally, students will gain insight into the challenges of data-driven reporting, and an appreciation of what is required in the Internet age to process large amounts of data and make it publicly available.

This case can be used in a class on government-media relations; managing sources; data journalism; editorial decisionmaking; or international reporting.