While I don’t disagree with the substance of what you’re writing here, I think you’re applying your lens of “non-profit journalism” to an organization that has grown up in a fairly different socio-political petri dish from the ones we’re used to talking about in this space.

Wikileaks isn’t the soft-squishy / vaguely communitarian / “hey this is run by a bunch of 55 year old white guy exiles from a formerly profitable midsized urban newspaper” we’re used to talking about when we talk about the “future of journalism.” They’re basically a radical anarchist hacker outfit with strong connections to European political and social movements that, for a lot of reasons, fall far outside the mainstream of acceptable political discourse in this country. What sounds to you like “James Bond” discourse is perfectly normal discourse in a lot of these worlds.

I don’t actually disagree with the substance of what you’re saying here- but I think you need to acknowledge that our ideas of what makes a “good” organization is loaded with all sorts of normative assumptions, and comes from a particular point of view about what a non-profit journalistic outfit is.

To me, one of the most interesting things about Wikileaks will be how it changes (or fails to change) its organizational culture as it hacks more and more into the journalism community. I think that’s going to be fascinating to watch. But lets just be upfront about it: Wikileaks ain’t the San Diego News Network. It probably never will be. And not everything thats changing journalism (or that has changed journalism in the past) has come from that particular place.

Thanks for your comment. I’m not sure that the “insider” post qualifies as slander — I’d put it in the realm of speculation — but I do think your reaction proves the point precisely. With greater transparency, there is less currency for speculation and/or misinformation.

Best,

Jim

First of all, the so called left wing politicians sited with my name attached to it in the Cryptome posts, are not left wing politicians and the Movement the political group i belong to does not classify itself as a left wing movement but a movement based on democratic reform. Secondly we are a grassroots movement elected to the parliament who has little to no money and couldnt even if we wanted to support a non profit like Wikileaks, and if we had the money we would rather spend it on Icelandic grassroots orgs that need our support. All our accounts are open and transparent to anyone who wants to read through it. I can provide you with contact information to our staff if you want to investigate further.

I agree that wikileaks needs to be more transparent when it comes to financial issues and as far as i know it work is being implemented in that regard.

All the slander about wikileaks is predictable, however it would be useful to look at the motivations of mr John Young – he seems to be on a crusade against wikileaks and its supporters.

Constructive criticism is always useful – slander is not.

All my best
Birgitta Jonsdottir
Parliamentary Group Chairman
The Movement