Snowden anniversary a reminder of the need to protect whistleblowers and journalists


AP Photo/George Brich
Whistleblowers are essential to a free and unfettered press.
Whistleblowers play a critical role in informing the public and holding the government to account.
Sources who act out of conscience to leak information to the press further our democracy. Whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden, have exposed some of our government’s gravest abuses.
Unfortunately, whistleblowers are often prosecuted and jailed. That’s wrong. Whistleblowers and the journalists they work with should be celebrated, not punished.

Legal attack on reporter Trevor Aaronson is the government’s latest attempt to seize the power to define journalism

New ‘spy draft law’ and ongoing retaliation against those who expose government secrets show there’s a long way to go in combating overreach

Bill allows the government to draft citizens into spying and swears them to secrecy

It’s not too late for the Senate to refuse to reauthorize Section 702 without meaningful reforms to protect Americans’ privacy

Iowa senator can further his legacy of supporting whistleblowers and First Amendment freedoms

Bipartisan bill would protect journalist-source confidentiality and put a stop to government surveillance of reporters

It’s troubling that our government apparently views disclosing its secrets as an exponentially more serious offense than possessing troves of child pornography

New bill would undermine anonymous sourcing and invite libel tourism

It’s time for Congress to put an end to warrantless surveillance of communications by journalists and other Americans

Inmates can force positive change through journalism. But they need support from the outside world