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Glenn Greenwald Leaves the Guardian To Start His Own Site

sfcrazy writes "Glenn Greenwald, the thorn in the proverbial back of NSA and its colonial cousin GCHQ, is leaving the Guardian to start his own news organization. Greenwald said 'My partnership with the Guardian has been extremely fruitful and fulfilling: I have high regard for the editors and journalists with whom I worked and am incredibly proud of what we achieved. The decision to leave was not an easy one, but I was presented with a once-in-a-career dream journalistic opportunity that no journalist could possibly decline. Because this news leaked before we were prepared to announce it, I'm not yet able to provide any details of this momentous new venture, but it will be unveiled very shortly.'"

61 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Recruited by NSA? by hawkinspeter · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, it has come to this.

    --
    You're a temporary arrangement of matter sliding towards oblivion in a cold, uncaring universe
    1. Re:Recruited by NSA? by happy_place · · Score: 1

      kind of ironic the story leaked. I don't see why he can't tell us everything... right now... he's kinda made a living on doing that.

      --
      http://www.beanleafpress.com
    2. Re:Recruited by NSA? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You do know that's not true?

      They have lots of highly sensitive material and have to carefully vet everything they release as to not cause any serious harm to either national security or private individuals.

    3. Re:Recruited by NSA? by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      No, he's been making his living sitting on a giant trove of secret documents, and doling them out bit by bit in a way that creates the desired narrative. Early on we were told about some parts of the surveillance, leading to widespread speculation about other parts. Those other parts were already known to Greenwald. He just sat there quietly while everybody ran in circles speculating. Then after they stop speculating, he doles out the answer. And everybody just responds to the "latest leak," even though it is actually just more information from the earlier leak. And we still only have a small percentage of what was leaked to him.

  2. Doesn't seem like the best idea by barlevg · · Score: 4, Informative

    IIRC the Guardian has been him with some protection (legal teams and such) to combat against government harassment / retaliation. Will his new venture be able to do the same?

    1. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by firex726 · · Score: 1

      Exactly, new sites, even for popular people can take awhile to get up and running. What's to stop someone from just flooding them in legal issues and cause them to bankrupt?

      The Guardian likely has a team of layers on staff to deal with them, but I doubt even Glenn would have the capital to pay for that for possibly months while his user base is built up.

    2. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Maybe that's why he's doing this...to protect others (the Guardian staff)who were previously associated with him.

      Here's to Greenwald and his sticking it to the imperialist dogs of the Five Eyes and One Chest Crapper (Germany).

      -- Ethanol-fueled

    3. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by Captain+Hook · · Score: 3, Funny

      The Guardian likely has a team of layers on staff to deal with them

      It wouldn't be the first sex sting against members of the government run by a news organisation but how do they get around the pimping laws?

      --
      These comments are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other voices in my head.
    4. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by smittyoneeach · · Score: 1

      Or maybe he's being lured out for a very special cup of tea by an especially special someone.

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    5. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      Seeing as how we're not in on most of the conversations that took place, we can only guess. It's possible they said they weren't going to do that for him anymore. It's also possible they will STILL do this for him, but as a separate organization on paper, there is less risk to the parent organization. I guess sort of like a shell corporation.

    6. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by mrspoonsi · · Score: 1

      It goes beyond legal protection...to eliminate the Guardian from the scene, it is a big organisation - hard work, but a guy starting out on his own (or with a small team), he might just find himself floating the wrong way up in the Thames, after all it is spy agencies he is working against and they have many creative ways (poisoned umbrella, radioactive drink just to name a few Russian favs).

    7. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      Mod points!

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
    8. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by TWiTfan · · Score: 1

      These days in Western intelligence, rape charges and other smear tactics are the preferred assassination technique. Why deal with something as messy as bullets and poisons when a nasty sex-offender charge can do the job just as well? Assassination by character assassination.

      --
      The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
    9. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      Issue is, this guy is openly gay and has a partner. He is also in a country that doesn't like NSA very much right now. It's much more difficult to frame someone who's like that than someone who is single, visits a country bought and paid for and actually has sex with people he doesn't know very well.

    10. Re:Doesn't seem like the best idea by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      Mostly the guardian has had to protect themselves from their own government in relation to his leaks, and to protect him while he is traveling to their location in the UK. Greenwald is Brazilian, and presumably his own government loves his work.

  3. Carry on Spying by apc512599 · · Score: 2

    Infamy, infamy. They've all got it In fer me!

  4. Shielding The Guardian from the government? by intermodal · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have a feeling Mr. Greenwald's articles will continue in The Guardian, but being external may help them avoid some of the legal hassles they are presently subjected to.

    --
    In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    1. Re:Shielding The Guardian from the government? by Gibgezr · · Score: 1

      Ahh, that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the idea.

    2. Re:Shielding The Guardian from the government? by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      Bingo.

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
  5. Adversarial Journalism by MCSEBear · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I find the thought of a well funded media outlet staffed by people who don't see their most important job as being subservient to those in power and corporate interests quite appealing.

    Pro Publica has been doing good work in this arena as well.

    1. Re:Adversarial Journalism by Anti-Social+Network · · Score: 1

      Pro Publica is also the fallback for releasing Snowden-leak-related articles in case The Guardian gets muzzled, as of a previous article here on /.

      --
      Goddammit just when I get my first +5 the Beta rolls out and kills everything
  6. Colonial Cousin? by IRGlover · · Score: 2

    The NSA would be the Colonial Cousin, not GCHQ. As far as I know, the UK has never (officially) been a colony of the US!

    1. Re:Colonial Cousin? by ebno-10db · · Score: 1

      "Officially" being the key word. However, since Blair left, they seem to be acting a bit more like a sovereign country.

    2. Re:Colonial Cousin? by CurryCamel · · Score: 2

      Dear IRGlover,

      In the future, please order your history books from amazon.com, not from amazon.co.uk.

      sincerely,
      W.Smith
      revisor, Ficdep, Minitrue

    3. Re:Colonial Cousin? by alex67500 · · Score: 1

      I think the roles were turned around after WWII. The UK has acted like a 51st state for a while now (the French call it "the state who didn't row fast enough"). Hence GCHQ being neck-deep in an NSA-driven surveillance scheme, not the other way around -- and ECHELON was the same.

    4. Re:Colonial Cousin? by chilvence · · Score: 1

      You're still using the word colonial wrong even if you believe that. If you want to literally colonise the UK, it means you have to move back here, and live here. Forever. Enjoy the fucking weather.

      The submitter simply mixed up the fact that we are a country with a history of colonisation, with the fact that we are colonials. Which is a fair point if you acknowledge our origins in modern day Denmark and Germany...

  7. Re:who is Glenn Greenwald? by ebno-10db · · Score: 2

    No problem - the propaganda writing machines will continue to provide you with all the pablum you want. Plus you get important insider information, such as whether Obama puts on his left shoe or his right shoe first. Think about the obviously important political metaphor.

  8. Greg Palast by ebno-10db · · Score: 1

    Extra points if they add Greg Palast.

    P.S. Why is it that the best American investigative journalists work for British publications? Do British investigative journalists work for American publications?

    1. Re:Greg Palast by kartaron · · Score: 2

      Piers Morgan?

    2. Re:Greg Palast by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      Your mistake is the assumption that American publications do investigative journalism. At this point just about the only publications/news sources that do any kind of investigation are SI and ESPN.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    3. Re:Greg Palast by AHuxley · · Score: 2

      MI6 knows from the Russians to look after the tame US press. A good MI6 press asset can subject the entire US population to creative UK propaganda over a life of quality work.
      Where the CIA has to publicly get the US to befriend a world of juntas and dictators, MI6 just has to befriend a few in the press to shape nations.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    4. Re:Greg Palast by coolmadsi · · Score: 4, Informative

      P.S. Why is it that the best American investigative journalists work for British publications? Do British investigative journalists work for American publications?

      The Private Eye (UK publication) seems to do a lot of the investigations into British affairs that a lot of the rest of the British media avoid.

    5. Re:Greg Palast by TractorBarry · · Score: 2

      +10 Informative.

      Private Eye very often uncovers wrongdoing that other papers simply won't touch.

      And beware the curse of Gnome !

      --
      Sky subscribers are morons. They pay to be advertised at !
    6. Re:Greg Palast by Nyder · · Score: 1

      ...

      P.S. Why is it that the best American investigative journalists work for British publications? Do British investigative journalists work for American publications?

      Yes, John Oliver works for the Daily Show.

      Oh, wait, you said investigative journalists and he's a comedian, well, that about the same these days.

      --
      Be seeing you...
    7. Re:Greg Palast by ebno-10db · · Score: 1

      Most journalists are not great writers. I've heard Palast's writing style described as a bit over-the-top, but not as disorganized. Are you talking about his articles or his books?

      Regardless, he is a hell of an investigator. He was the first to ferret out the real issue behind the 2000 Florida election fiasco (black voters deliberately, and erroneously, struck from the voter registration). IIRC it was at least six months before WaPo or NYT finally reported that.

  9. Re:who is Glenn Greenwald? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't you have a recorded episode of "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" to challenge yourself with?

  10. Congratulations by Bob9113 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It has been said that the business of journalists is, "to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Modern American journalism has inverted that phrase, mocking the weak to help the masses feel better about their dreary normalcy and fawning over the elite in hopes of being granted the favor of an interview or the opportunity to ask a question at a press conference. Glenn Greenwald has shown himself to be cut from cloth more worthy of the journalist mantle.

    Thank you, Mr. Greenwald, and congratulations. "You earned it," has rarely sounded more apropos.

    1. Re:Congratulations by Bob9113 · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately things can be a bit more complicated than what the phrase about journalists and your praise of Greenwald suggests.

      I would rather die free than live in fear.

    2. Re:Congratulations by Hatta · · Score: 1

      I'm not afraid of terrorists, I'm afraid of my own government. The threat from terrorism is negligible. The very real damage done by bad government is overwhelming. The only weapon we have in the fight against corruption is journalism, and Greenwald is the only real journalist we have left.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    3. Re:Congratulations by Gibgezr · · Score: 2

      Something the U.S., as a nation, seems to not understand: by making a huge fuss about a "war on terror", they have, by definition, lost the war on terror.

    4. Re:Congratulations by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      That was the idea from the beginning...
      Just like the War on Drugs.

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
    5. Re:Congratulations by intermodal · · Score: 1

      I would rather die free than live in fear.

      I only wish so many governments weren't perfectly willing to help you with that.

      --
      In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    6. Re:Congratulations by intermodal · · Score: 1

      It's really not more complicated, at least in this case.

      --
      In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
  11. Re:who is Glenn Greenwald? by evilRhino · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's ok to be ignorant, but you shouldn't be so proud about it to make posts like these.

  12. Re:Recruited by CIA? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Step 1 Use an NSA contracter leak to establish credentials using older operations and long suspected systems.
    Step 2 Create a new centre of leaking excellence.
    Step 3 Request any new leakers give identity and full encrypted data dump first.
    Step 4 Round up majority of new leakers on average but know to keep up appearances with via outraged sock puppets, MI5,6, NSA and congresscritters.
    Step 5 Work with govs on any 'show' releases over many tens of years, questioning all encryption, spreading doubt.
    Step 6 Profit for all.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  13. Re:Recruited by CIA? by BlindRobin · · Score: 1

    You forgot the FSB, who's to say he can't play well with others?

  14. Greenwald's new media venture by gordona · · Score: 4, Informative

    This venture is being funded by EBAY founder Pierre Omidyar (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/15/us-usa-security-greenwald-idUSBRE99E18D20131015).

    --
    "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" -- Dr. Strangelove
    1. Re:Greenwald's new media venture by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      Interesting that the Wikipedia page hasn't been updated with this information...
      Conspiracy!

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
  15. Re:backwards by ebno-10db · · Score: 1

    GCHQ is in the "mother country", America was the colony

    You should have told Tony Blair that.

  16. And there's more... by hyades1 · · Score: 4, Informative

    There are now reports that Jeremy Scahill and Laura Poitras, two journalists with serious cred in the area of spying and national security, will join Greenwald at the new site.

    From TFA:

    "Scahill, a dogged investigative journalist who focuses on national security, and Poitras, a filmmaker who has extensively covered surveillance issues, had already been in discussions with Greenwald about starting a venture together when Omidyar approached with a similar vision for a new media outlet, sources said. The Washington Post reported Tuesday night that Poitras and Scahill may be potential âoehiresâ at the new site. But according to sources, they were already in talks with Greenwald about working together and are not only now being recruited for the venture".

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/glen-greenwald-media_n_4107289.html

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
    1. Re:And there's more... by undeadbill · · Score: 1

      Oh, that is interesting. Jeremy Scahill was one of Amy Goodman's star interns at Democracy Now!, and is the kind of person who would work very well within the kind of journalism that Greenwald does.

      As far as leaving the Guardian is concerned, the British government came in and literally smashed computers in the Guardian's own offices over Greenwald's work- having some organizational separation between Greenwald might be a good thing.

  17. Bad move by koan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Without the Guardian's rep he will be regulated to the conspiracy bin in no time at all.

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
    1. Re:Bad move by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

      Brit, is that you?

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
  18. Re:Recruited by CIA? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    The FSB is already running too many GCHQ, MI6, MI5, CIA, ASIO and NSA full term employes with real long term career advancement opportunities.
    Where the NSA and CIA went for signals intelligence contractors, FSB stayed with the skilled gov staff.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  19. Re:Slashdot prudism by Gibgezr · · Score: 1

    The proverb actually refers to a thorn in the paw; colloquialization (a word I just made up, thankyouverymuch) of the proverb gives us "thorn in my ass"-style commentary.

  20. Reminds me of the spider man movie by js3 · · Score: 1

    "Attack what he loves", this would make it far easier to silence him that he thinks.

    --
    did you forget to take your meds?
  21. Re:backwards by fsagx · · Score: 1

    Personally, my problems with thorns have mostly been in my foot.

  22. Re:Sold Out? by TWiTfan · · Score: 1

    I guess the NSA promised him riches as long as he spreads their "we're not bad, we promise" propaganda?

    They offered him a choice of working for either shutthefuckup.com and gitmo.com.

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
  23. IT'S A TRAP! by Optic7 · · Score: 1

    Hmmm... this once in a lifetime journalistic opportunity wouldn't happen to require him to take a quick little trip to the US or to some other US-associated (most of the developed world) country, would it? I'm thinking of the "you've won a prize!" traps that the police sets up once in a while to trap people that have arrest warrants.

  24. Re:Slashdot prudism by newcastlejon · · Score: 2

    It's "a thorn in one's side" and "a pain in the neck".
    Note: I am a native English (as in England) speaker.

    --
    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
  25. Re:Slashdot prudism by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

    Note: I am a native English (as in England) speaker.

    by newcastlejon

    I take it that's not the Geordie-land Newcastle then? Wey-aye?

    --
    Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"