Seeing the Light: Columbia and Wikileaks

Now a group of Columbia’s journalism professors has made a statement regarding WikiLeaks. According to CNN.com, 19 professors in Columbia’s School of Journalism have signed a letter asking President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder not to prosecute WikiLeaks because it would set a “bad precedent for reporters.” The letter makes the point that, “As a historical matter, government overreaction to publication of leaked material in the press has always been more damaging to American democracy than the leaks themselves.”

It’s been less than two weeks since Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) first forbade its students from re-posting and discussing online the contents of the cables leaked by WikiLeaks and then rescinded that policy a few days later, stating instead that, “Freedom of information and expression is a core value of our institution.” SIPA Dean John H. Coatsworth continued in an email to the SIPA community,”Thus, SIPA’s position is that students have a right to discuss and debate any information in the public arena that they deem relevant to their studies or to their roles as global citizens, and to do so without fear of adverse consequences.”

The CNN article about the School of Journalism points out that Holder is an alumnus of both Columbia’s undergrad program and law school, and Obama also received his BA from Columbia. Given that the English translation of the school’s motto is, “In Thy light shall we see light,” lets hope the journalism professors help the President and Attorney General see some in Assange’s case and in the cause of freedom of speech in general.

The letter, which is reflective of these 19 professors’ personal views and is not an official statement from the School of Journalism or the University, states in part:

But while we hold varying opinions of Wikileaks’ methods and decisions, we all believe that in publishing diplomatic cables Wikileaks is engaging in journalistic activity protected by the First Amendment. Any prosecution of Wikileaks’ staff for receiving, possessing or publishing classified materials will set a dangerous precedent for reporters in any publication or medium, potentially chilling investigative journalism and other First Amendment-protected activity.

That is chilling. Let’s keep shining that light.

— amanda

6 thoughts on “Seeing the Light: Columbia and Wikileaks”

  2. I’m liking, finally, how things are going on this. With JA’s issue in Sweden increasingly looking like cotton candy (all fluff, no substance), the increased world action to support Wikileaks and JA over the cables has become the cause of the year.

    No matter that right now it’s only America’s dirty laundry being aired, and I’m sure other countries will have their own self-inflicted epiphanies soon. I’m glad the Columbia profs stood up this way, as in so many ways their institution has worked to define journalism here in the US.

    It seems this is the moment that we give web journo’s true equality and protection, no more, no less than print or TV journalists. Certainly the credibility of journalists as JA has risen immensely, since even the print media is in thrall to them to gain access to the source materials.

    Heh, heh. A little change, anyone?

  3. Today is Bill of Rights Day. Was tempted to wear black. Wonder when it will be forbidden to re-post or discuss the contents of that document? Thankfully, Amanda, you have offered this beacon of light from one of America’s greatest universities, reconsidering a grevious error and remembering what they are about in the first place.

    Give `em Love, Columbia. May thy banners make tyranny tremble.

  4. Thanks Amanda, that’s good to see. Here’s another bit, on journalists speaking up:

    http://www.thenation.com/blog/157106/journalists-begin-finally-stand-defense-wikileaks-and-freedom-information

    Journalists Begin, Finally, to Stand Up in Defense of WikiLeaks and Freedom of Information

    John Nichols
    December 14, 2010
    …..
    Leading Australian journalists have stepped up in a big way to defend WikiLeaks, with the head of the nation’s major media union arguing that “attacks on WikiLeaks can also be seen as attacks on the Australian media outlets which have worked with the organisation to publish leaked material.”

    In response to calls for the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (an Australian) and attempts to block the distribution of leaked US diplomatic cables, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance federal secretary Christopher Warren says: “Allegations that the work of WikiLeaks is somehow illegal are yet to be proven in Australia, or in any other country. The Alliance and (the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific section) calls on governments to refrain from prejudicial speculation that risks harming our democratic system.”

    …
    Dozens of major newspaper editors, broadcasters and leading journalists have signed a letter defending Wikileaks, and the nation’s most respected senior journalists are condemning Australian officials—including Prime Minister Julia Gillard and federal Attorney General Robert McClelland—for suggesting that Assange broke the law by publishing the diplomatic cables.

    …

    American journalists have been slower to step up. And some have even joined Sarah Palin and others in attacking WikiLeaks at a time when key players in Congress are proposing official assaults on the website and those associated with it.

    But the media watchdog group Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting has stepped up with a strong letter signed by author Barbara Ehrenreich, academic Noam Chomsky, Pentagon papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and a number of journalists associated with The Nation, Salon, In These Times, Free Speech TV and other outlets.

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