Nov 7, 2010

[Update, by Dec it’s 60 countries and more than 460 signers.]

Journalists from every region of the world have joined together to support the whistle-blowing organization Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange who, they say, have provided an extraordinary resource for journalists around the world and made an outstanding contribution to transparency and accountability on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.

I am one of the organizers of the campaign.

The journalists, many of whom are prominent investigative reporters, come from countries as diverse as Russia and Namibia, and Israel and Indonesia, plus many from European countries and North America. The journalists,  who are linked through investigative journalism networks, decided to speak out publicly after watching a growing campaign of threats and unfair criticisms against Assange and Wikileaks.

Following are the statement, the list of signatories and contacts for media enquiries about the statement in different regions of the world.

The petition has been posted on the Global Investigative Journalism site so that other journalists can add their signatures.

JOURNALISTS’ STATEMENT ON ATTACKS ON WIKILEAKS

Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing organization Wikileaks, is being angrily criticized and threatened for his part in huge leaks of military documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (the ‘War Diaries’). He is being accused of irresponsibly releasing confidential military information, of endangering lives of people named in the leaked military reports and even of espionage. Some media organizations have joined in this criticism.

We, journalists and journalist organizations from many countries, express our support for Mr. Assange and Wikileaks. We believe that Mr. Assange has made an outstanding contribution to transparency and accountability on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, subjects where transparency and accountability has been severely restricted by government secrecy and media control. He is being attacked for releasing information that should never have been withheld from the public.

We believe Wikileaks had the right to post confidential military documents because it was in the interest of the public to know what was happening. The documents show evidence that the US Government has misled the public about activities in Iraq and Afghanistan and that war crimes may have been committed.

Has Wikileaks endangered lives? There was legitimate criticism of Wikileaks for not vetting the Afghanistan documents fully enough, with some names such as informers being released. Fortunately there is no evidence that anyone has been injured or killed as a result. We note that Wikileaks learned from that mistake and has been much more careful with the Iraq documents. Overall, Wikileaks’ factual reporting of numerous undisputed abuses and crimes is of far greater significance than the widely criticized mistakes over inadequate redacting.

Mr. Assange is being personally pressured because of his involvement in the military leaks, including threats of espionage charges. Mr. Assange is no more guilty of espionage than any journalist or any whistleblower.   This is a terrible precedent and one that is contrary to open government.

If it is espionage to publish documents provided by whistle blowers, then every journalist will eventually be guilty of that crime. Mr. Assange deserves our support and encouragement in the face of the attacks.

Since it was launched in 2006, Wikileaks has been an extraordinary resource for journalists around the world, furthering transparency at a time when governments are reducing it. Although it is not part of the media, and does not purport to be, its mission of informing the public and reducing unjustified secrecy complements and assists our work. As grateful beneficiaries of Wikileaks and Mr. Assange’s work, we stand in support of them at this time.

Signatories to date:

1.         Knut Ivar Aarstein, Journalist at www.vol.no, (Norway)

2.         Massimo A. Alberizzi Africa Correspondent, Corriere della Sera, (Italy)

3.         Thomas Alling, Editor, Danish National Broadcasting Corp., (Denmark)

4.         Agendia Aloysius, Freelance Journalist, (Cameroon/Sweden)

5.         Brigitte Alfter, Freelance Journalist, (Denmark)

6.         Timothy John Anderson, Editor, hereticpress.com, (Australia).

7.         Heidi Molstad Andresen, The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (SKUP), Norway

8.         Ana Arana, Directora, Fundaci³n MEPI, Periodismo de Investigaci³n, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de Mexico, (Mexico)

9.         Justin Arenstein, Forum for African Investigative Reporters, (South Africa)

10.   Paolo Bertossa, Journalist, (Switzerland)

11.   Gunvor Bjerre, Journalist (Denmark)

12.   Jan-Morten Bjornbakk, Reporter Norwegian News Agency (Norway)

13.   Kristina Borjesson, Investigative Reporter/TV Producer, (USA)

14.   Tricia Bots, Journalism Teacher at Fontys Hogeschool, board member of Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists, (Netherlands)

15.   Guilherme Brendler, Reporter, (Brazil

16.   Kim Bredesen, Freelance Journalist (Norway)

17.   J. Cholo Brooks, CEO Global News Network, Inc., Publisher of The Star Newspaper, (Liberia)

18.   Susan Brownmiller, Author, (USA)

19.   Hans Christoph Buch, Writer and Journalist, (Germany)

20.   Thomas Buch-Andersen, Journalist, Danish National Public Radio (DR-P1), (Denmark)

21.   Stefan Candea, The Romanian Center for Investigative Journalism, (Romania)

22.   Jean-Philippe Ceppi, Swiss Investigation Network, Producer Swiss Television, (Switzerland)

23.   Else Christensen, Freelance Journalist, (Denmark)

24.   Marc Cooper,   Author and Journalist, (USA)

25.   Staffan Dahllöf, Freelance Reporter, (Denmark)

26.   Juliana Daibert, Rep³rter, (Brazil)

27.   Ides Debruyne, Executive Director, The Pascal Decroos Fund for Investigative Journalism, (Belgium)

28.   Piet Depuydt, Investigative Reporter at NRC Handelsblad, Chancellor Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists, (Belgium)

29.   Danka Derifaj, Investigative Reporter, NovaTV, (Croatia)

30.   Paulette Desormeaux Parra, Freelance Journalist, (Chile)

31.   Luiz Carlos Duarte, Editor-geral do jornal Agora S£o Paulo, (Brazil)

32.   Paul Fein, Freelance Journalist, (USA)

33.   Lucas Ferraz, reporter, Folha de S.Paulo (Brazil)

34.   Jacqueline Fowks, Reporter of IDL-Reporteros, (Peru)

35.   Jan (George) Frajkor, Assoc. Prof. (Ret.) School of Journalism, Carleton University, Ottawa,   (Canada)

36.   Jan Gunnar Furuly, Journalist, daily Aftenposten/SKUP, (Norway)

37.   Frank Garbely, Journalist & Documentary Director, Geneva (Switzerland).

38.   Henry Gombya, Editor-in-Chief, Str8talk Chronicle, London, (UK).

39.   Nicky Hager, Journalist, Author of Secret Power: New Zealand‘s Role in the International Spy Network, (New Zealand),

40.   Per Henrik Hansen, Freelance Journalist, (Denmark)

41.   Staale Hansen, Journalist, Investigative journalism unit, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) (Norway)

42.   Peter Hartung, Freelance Editor, (Denmark)

43.   Frank Hartzell, News Reporter and Editor (USA)

44.   Mansoor Hassan, Northwest Editor, Urdu Times, (UK)

45.   Eric Hennekam, Journalism Teacher Netherlands and Belgium, Member of Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists, (Netherlands)

46.   Doug Henwood, Editor, Left Business Observer, (USA)

47.   Thiago Herdy Lana, Rep³rter jornal O Globo (Brazil)

48.   Declan Hill, Author; The Fix: soccer and organized crime, www.howtofixafootballmatch.com, (UK)

49.   Dwight Hines, IndyMedia, Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors (USA)

50.   Krister Clausen Hoaas , Journalist, Bergens Tidende, (Norway)

51.   Benjamin Holst, Editor at Kommunen, Co-founder of DanWatch, (Denmark)

52.   Otto Hostettler, Journalist, Beobachter (Observer), (Switzerland)

53.   Mark Lee Hunter, Author, Story-Based Inquiry: A Manual for investigative Journalists, UNESCO 2009, (France)

54.   David Ibrahim, Multimedia Journalist, (Lebanon)

55.   Doug Ireland, U.S. Correspondent, Bakchich magazine (France)  and  International Editor, Gay City News, New York City, (USA)

56.   Milorad Ivanovic, Executive Editor, Blic daily, Belgrade (Serbia)

57.   Barbara Iverson, Co-publisher ChicagoTalks.org, (USA)

58.   Mario Augusto Jakobskind, Journalist, Member of the Council of Brazilian Press Association/ABI, (Brazil)

59.   Solveig Gram Jensen, Freelance, (France)

60.   Asbj¸rn Slot J¸rgensen, Journalist, Associate Professor Danish School of Media and Journalism, (Denmark)

61.   Tommy Kaas, External Lecturer at Roskilde University and Editor at Kaas & Mulvad, (Denmark)

62.   Henrik Kaufholz, Asst. Foreign Editor, Politiken, Copenhagen, and Coordinator in the network Scoop, (Denmark)

63.   Martin Kaul, Journalist, Taz-Die Tageszeitung, (Germany)

64.   Stetson Kennedy, Investigative Journalist/historian/lecturer, Fellow, Society of Professional Journalists, (USA)

65.   Oleg Khomenok, SCOOP network for investigative journalists in East and Southeastern Europe coordinator, (Ukraine)

66.   Andreas Klamm–Sabaot, Journalist, Radio TV IBS Liberty (UK)

67.   Phillip Knightly, Author and journalist, (UK)

68.   Lucy Komisar, Investigative Journalist, thekomisarscoop.com/, (USA)

69.   Ketil Kristiansen, Freelance Journalist, (Norway).

70.   Simon Kruse, Foreign Correspondent, (Denmark)

71.   Joke Kujenya, Convenor, Media Mentors, (Nigeria)

72.   Alain Lallemand, Foreign Correspondent, Le Soir, (Belgium)

73.   Bjarke Larsen, Journalist, Publisher, (Denmark)

74.   Paul Lashmar, Investigative Journalist and Lecturer, Brunel University, London, (UK)

75.   Anne Lea Landsted, Associate Professor, Centre for Journalism, University of Southern Denmark, (Denmark)

76.   Maggie Lee, Freelance Reporter, (USA)

77.   Sasa Lekovic, Investigative Journalism Center, (Croatia)

78.   David Leloup, Freelance Journalist, (Belgium)

79.   R³ger Lindo, Journalist, La Opinion Newspaper, (USA)

80.   Gwen Lister, Editor, The Namibian, (Namibia)

81.   Bill Marsden, Reporter, The Gazette, Montreal, (Canada)

82.   Barbara Matejcic, freelance journalist, (Croatia)

83.   Espen Reiss Mathiesen, Asst. Prof. University of Stavanger, (Norway)

84.   Patrick Mayoyo, Investigative Journalist, Deputy News Editor, Daily Nation (Kenya)

85.   Gavin MacFadyen, Director,  Centre for Investigative Journalism, City University, London, (UK)

86.   Bibiana Piene, Journalist, Norwegian News Agency, (Norway)

87.   Bruno Pires de Oliveira Mattos, Culture Producer, (Brazil)

88.   Leandro Melito Ferreira, Rep³rter, Jornal Brasil Atual, (Brazil)

89.   Yossi Melman, Haaretz, (Israel)

90.   Gard L. Michalsen, Editor of Sortlands Avisa, (Norway)

91.   Christian Mihr, n-ost Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe, (Germany)

92.   David Miller, Spinwatch.org, Scotland, (UK)

93.   Lars M¸ller, Reporter and External Lecturer at Danish School of Media and Journalism, (Denmark)

94.   Severino Motta, Reporter, Bras­lia (Brazil)

95.   Nils Mulvad, Assistant Professor, Danish School of Media and Journalism and editor at Kaas & Mulvad, (Denmark)

96.   Ricardo Nespoli, Journalist, (Brazil)

97.   Patrick Nolan, Marshall Democrat-News, Marshall Missouri, (USA)

98.   Lars Richard Olsen, Journalist Altaposten, (Norway)

99.   Lise Olsen, Investigative Reporter, (USA)

100.                     Okke Ornstein, Journalist, (Netherlands/Panama)

101.                     Morten ˜verbye, Founder, desk.no, (Norway)

102.                     Gabriela Pablos, Journalist, News Center of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ( Mexico)

103.                     Alia Papageorgiou, Editor/Columnist, New Europe, (Belgium)

104.                     J¸rgen Flindt Pedersen, Journalist, Former Managing Editor of Danish TV2, and Former Chairman of the Danish Association for Investigative Journalism, (Denmark)

105.                     Bibiana Piene, journalist, Norwegian News Agency, (Norway)

106.                     Luisa Purchio Haddad, Journalist, (Brazil)

107.                     Paul Cristian Radu, The Romanian Center for Investigative Journalism, (Romania)

108.                     Jan Erik Range, Journalist, Netmedia (Norway)

109.                     Gloria Reyes, International Journalist, (Germany)

110.                     Laura Robinson, Freelance Journalist, Member, Writers Union of Canada (Canada)

111.                     Fernando Rodrigues, President, Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism, (Abraji) (Brazil)

112.                     Matthew Rothschild, Editor,  The Progressive, (USA)

113.                     Kirsten Rulf, WDR German Public TV, (Germany)

114.                     Armen Sargsyan, Investigative Broadcast Journalist, (Armenia)

115.                     Ewald Scharfenberg, Journalist, Executive Director, Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela, (Venezuela)

116.                     Danny Schechter, Media Channel, (USA)

117.                     Ben Schiller, Freelance Journalist, theschiller.com, (UK)

118.                     Jon Shafer, Journalist, (USA)

119.                     Anna Sharogradskaya, Director of the Regional Press Institute, Saint Petersburg, (Russia)

120.                     Joe Shea, Editor-in-Chief, www.american-reporter.com, (USA)

121.                     Hyonhee Shin, Business Reporter, The Korea Herald (South Korea)

122.                     Marco Sifuentes, Journalist and Blogger, (Peru)

123.                     Leo Sisti, Writer, Contributing Reporter at L’Espresso and Il Fatto Quotidiano, (Italy)

124.                     Mary Slosson, Journalist, (USA)

125.                     Margo Smit, Freelance Investigative Reporter, Director Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists, (Netherlands)

126.                     Marcelo Soares, Special Reporter at MTV Brazil and ICIJ Member, Sao Paulo, (Brazil)

127.                     Barbara Probst Solomon, Author and Journalist, cultural correspondent El Pa­s, Spain, (USA)

128.                     Dubes Sonego Junior, Reporter at Brasil Economico, (Brazil)

129.                     Katerina Spasovska, Assistant Professor, Western Carolain University/ Former Journalist, (Macedonia)

130.                     Kannan Srinivasan, Former Senior Editor, Indian Express Publications, Bombay, and Kannan Srinivasan Newsletter, (Australia)

131.                     Kitty Stapp, North American Editor, Inter Press Service (IPS), (USA)

132.                     Martin Stoll, News Editor, SonntagsZeitung, (Switzerland)

133.                     Dominique Strebel, Reporter, Beobachter (Observer), Axel-Springer (Switzerland)

134.                     Carlos Subero, coordinator of Diario La Calle office in Caracas, (Venezuela)

135.                     Kaka Suminta, Chairman of Indonesia Journalist Forum, (Indonesia)

136.                     Drew Sullivan, Advising Editor, Center for Investigative Reporting, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project,

Sarajevo, (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

137.                     Joy Summers, Investigative Television Producer,  (South Africa)

138.                     Peter Svaar, Foreign Affairs Reporter, Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. (NRK)(Norway)

139.                     Elvis Tah, Buea City Reporter, The Post Newspaper (Cameroon)

140.                     Nadia Tarantini, Writer and Journalist, (Italy)

141.                     Marleen Teugels, Journalist-Lecturer, (Belgium)

142.                     Pia Thordsen, Journalist, TVSyd, Denmark

143.                     Serena Tinari, Journalist, RSI – Swiss Television, (Switzerland)

144.                     Stanimir Vaglenov, Bulgarian Investigative Journalism Center, (Bulgaria)

145.                     Ingrid Van Daele, Investigative writer at Knack, Board Member of Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists, (Belgium)

146.                     Marcel van Silfhout, Investigative Reporter at VARA, Public TV, Board Member of Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Journalists, (Netherlands)

147.                     Constanza Vieira, Correspondent, Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency, (Colombia)

148.                     Anne-Frédérique Widmann, Journalist, head of the investigation cell, Swiss Television (RTS), (Switzerland)

149.                     Ian Williams, U.S. & UN Correspondent, Tribune, London, (USA)

150.                     Dina Yafasova, Journalist, (Denmark)

151.                     Denise Zandonadi, Rep³rter, Jornal A Gazeta, Vit³ria, Esp­rito Santo, (Brazil)

152.                     Blaz Zgaga, Freelance Journalist, (Slovenia)