Università degli Studi di Pavia
Corso di laurea interfacoltà in
Editoria e Comunicazione Multimediale
COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS.
WIKILEAKS, LA ROCKSTAR DELL’ERA DIGITALE
Relatore: Chiar.mo Prof. Fabio Muzzio
Correlatore: Chiar.mo Prof. Guido Legnante
Tesi di laurea di Alessandro Capone
Anno accademico 2010/2011
From wikileaks.org
WikiLeaks
is a non-profit media organization
dedicated to bringing important news and
information to the public. We provide an
innovative, secure and anonymous way for
independent sources around the world to leak
information to our journalists. We publish
material of ethical, political and historical
significance while keeping the identity of our
sources anonymous, thus providing a universal
way for the revealing of suppressed and censored
injustices.
TWO MAIN
ASPECTS
HISTORY,
OPERATING
MEDIA
ANALYSIS
“You have to start with the truth.
The truth is the only way that we can get anywhere.
Because any decision-making that is based upon lies
or ignorance can't lead to a good conclusion.”
Julian Assange
Early life
Hacking and conviction
Computer programming and University studies
WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks’ greatest scoops before 2010
Standard Operating Procedures for Camp Delta
Julius Baer Swiss Bank
The collected secret “bibles” of Scientology
Climate Research Unit e-mails
Sarah Palin’s e-mail account
BNP Membership
Trafigura Minton’s report
Kaupthing Bank
Great firewall of Australia
Leaks and events in 2010
Collateral Murder, 5th April
Afghan War Diaries, 25th July
Iraq War Diaries, 22nd October
Cablegate, since 28th November
Manning’s Arrest, 26th May
Leaks on Guantanamo
Camp Delta Standard Procedures
November 2007
Guantanamo Files (Cablegate)
April 2011
Some results…
• Different approaches for the two leaks
• All newspapers criticize the United States (Obama)
• WikiLeaks discloses new details on whereabouts of
al-Qaeda leaders on 9/11 (Washington Post)
The Collateral Murder
“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder
respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind”
G.Orwell
Some results…
• Media deal with the organization, WL is not simply
appointed but the journalists write in-depth articles
• Wikileaks, la “Cia del Popolo” che spaventa il Pentagono
(Corriere della Sera from NYT)
• What would Daniel Ellsberg do with the Pentagon Papers
today? (NYT)
• Other european cases
• El Paìs, the real surprise!
• Why NYT, Der Spiegel and El Paìs will be the media
partners?
The Cablegate
Il Giornale vs La Repubblica
Analysis from November 22 to December 1
• Concern (and articles) increases approaching to the
publication date. Conspiracy against Italy?
Wikileaks, altro scoop. Nelle carte pure l'Italia “Strategia per colpirci”
(Il Giornale) VS Wikileaks e rifiuti, Frattini vede il complotto.“Strategia
per colpire l'immagine dell'Italia” (La Repubblica)
• Profile of Julian Assange
Assange, l'uomo che spaventa i potenti (Il Giornale) VS Tutti i segreti di
Julian Assange, l'uomo che fa tremare il potere (La Repubblica)
• Berlusconi’s Friendship
Clinton: "Berlusconi? Non c'è amico migliore". Assange messo al
bando: ricercato in 188 Paesi (Il Giornale) VS Clinton: "Berlusconi, il
miglior amico". Caccia internazionale ad Assange (La Repubblica)
Conclusions
• The “victims”
• Are the Cables important?
• Is WL journalism?
• New opportunity
You shall know the
truth and the truth
shall make you mad
Aldous Huxley