Dec 26, 2013
"Ludicrous."
This is the best word to describe accusations that former Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald is merely a "spokesman for Edward Snowden," so says the embattled journalist who has taken heat from corporate media and political commentators around the world for working with the NSA whistleblower to expose the vast dragnet surveillance practices of the spying agency.
In an interview on MSNBC Thursday afternoon, Greenwald was forced to defend himself once again when anchor Kristen Welker accused him of "crossing the line" with his coverage of the ongoing NSA revelations, which have shocked the world since last June, and asked him to respond to the 'spokesman' accusations.
"Every journalist has an agenda," said Greenwald. "We're on MSNBC now, where close to 24 hours a day the agenda of President Obama and the Democratic Party are promoted, defended, glorified, the agenda of the Republican Party is undermined. That doesn't mean the people who appear on MSNBC aren't journalists, they are."
"I think every journalist has a viewpoint," said Greenwald.
He continued:
My viewpoint is very clear. I don't hide it. Its that I think that what Edward Snowden did is very admirable and heroic. But at the same time the ultimate test of a journalist is - is what you publish accurate and reliable? And I think with regard to every story that we published over the last six months there hasn't been a single correction made to any of them. Very few have been called into question.
Greenwald has before defended the notion that bias in the media is unavoidable and that the more honest you are about your viewpoint, the more integrity you have as a journalist.
"I think the point is not so much about MSNBC and what happens here," Welker responded, "but more that sometimes when you talk about Edward Snowden you do defend him, and some people wonder if that crosses a line."
"Sure, I do defend him just like people on MSNBC defend President Obama and his officials and Democratic Party leaders 24 hours a day," said Greenwald. "Not everybody, but a lot of people do," he corrected.
"I don't make any bones about the fact that I consider what Edward Snowden did to be quite heroic.." Greenwald said. "I, as a journalist, am very grateful when people sacrifice their own interest to come forward to bring transparency to the United States government. That to me is what journalism is about, and that's what we need in the United States."
Watch the exchange below.
Thursday's interview follows accusations from Harvard Law School's Alan Dershowitz who appeared on MSNBC on Wednesday after a previous Greenwald interview and said Greenwald is an "ideologue" who "doesn't like America" or "Western democracies."
"He's never met a terrorist he didn't like," Dershowitz charged.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
"Ludicrous."
This is the best word to describe accusations that former Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald is merely a "spokesman for Edward Snowden," so says the embattled journalist who has taken heat from corporate media and political commentators around the world for working with the NSA whistleblower to expose the vast dragnet surveillance practices of the spying agency.
In an interview on MSNBC Thursday afternoon, Greenwald was forced to defend himself once again when anchor Kristen Welker accused him of "crossing the line" with his coverage of the ongoing NSA revelations, which have shocked the world since last June, and asked him to respond to the 'spokesman' accusations.
"Every journalist has an agenda," said Greenwald. "We're on MSNBC now, where close to 24 hours a day the agenda of President Obama and the Democratic Party are promoted, defended, glorified, the agenda of the Republican Party is undermined. That doesn't mean the people who appear on MSNBC aren't journalists, they are."
"I think every journalist has a viewpoint," said Greenwald.
He continued:
My viewpoint is very clear. I don't hide it. Its that I think that what Edward Snowden did is very admirable and heroic. But at the same time the ultimate test of a journalist is - is what you publish accurate and reliable? And I think with regard to every story that we published over the last six months there hasn't been a single correction made to any of them. Very few have been called into question.
Greenwald has before defended the notion that bias in the media is unavoidable and that the more honest you are about your viewpoint, the more integrity you have as a journalist.
"I think the point is not so much about MSNBC and what happens here," Welker responded, "but more that sometimes when you talk about Edward Snowden you do defend him, and some people wonder if that crosses a line."
"Sure, I do defend him just like people on MSNBC defend President Obama and his officials and Democratic Party leaders 24 hours a day," said Greenwald. "Not everybody, but a lot of people do," he corrected.
"I don't make any bones about the fact that I consider what Edward Snowden did to be quite heroic.." Greenwald said. "I, as a journalist, am very grateful when people sacrifice their own interest to come forward to bring transparency to the United States government. That to me is what journalism is about, and that's what we need in the United States."
Watch the exchange below.
Thursday's interview follows accusations from Harvard Law School's Alan Dershowitz who appeared on MSNBC on Wednesday after a previous Greenwald interview and said Greenwald is an "ideologue" who "doesn't like America" or "Western democracies."
"He's never met a terrorist he didn't like," Dershowitz charged.
"Ludicrous."
This is the best word to describe accusations that former Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald is merely a "spokesman for Edward Snowden," so says the embattled journalist who has taken heat from corporate media and political commentators around the world for working with the NSA whistleblower to expose the vast dragnet surveillance practices of the spying agency.
In an interview on MSNBC Thursday afternoon, Greenwald was forced to defend himself once again when anchor Kristen Welker accused him of "crossing the line" with his coverage of the ongoing NSA revelations, which have shocked the world since last June, and asked him to respond to the 'spokesman' accusations.
"Every journalist has an agenda," said Greenwald. "We're on MSNBC now, where close to 24 hours a day the agenda of President Obama and the Democratic Party are promoted, defended, glorified, the agenda of the Republican Party is undermined. That doesn't mean the people who appear on MSNBC aren't journalists, they are."
"I think every journalist has a viewpoint," said Greenwald.
He continued:
My viewpoint is very clear. I don't hide it. Its that I think that what Edward Snowden did is very admirable and heroic. But at the same time the ultimate test of a journalist is - is what you publish accurate and reliable? And I think with regard to every story that we published over the last six months there hasn't been a single correction made to any of them. Very few have been called into question.
Greenwald has before defended the notion that bias in the media is unavoidable and that the more honest you are about your viewpoint, the more integrity you have as a journalist.
"I think the point is not so much about MSNBC and what happens here," Welker responded, "but more that sometimes when you talk about Edward Snowden you do defend him, and some people wonder if that crosses a line."
"Sure, I do defend him just like people on MSNBC defend President Obama and his officials and Democratic Party leaders 24 hours a day," said Greenwald. "Not everybody, but a lot of people do," he corrected.
"I don't make any bones about the fact that I consider what Edward Snowden did to be quite heroic.." Greenwald said. "I, as a journalist, am very grateful when people sacrifice their own interest to come forward to bring transparency to the United States government. That to me is what journalism is about, and that's what we need in the United States."
Watch the exchange below.
Thursday's interview follows accusations from Harvard Law School's Alan Dershowitz who appeared on MSNBC on Wednesday after a previous Greenwald interview and said Greenwald is an "ideologue" who "doesn't like America" or "Western democracies."
"He's never met a terrorist he didn't like," Dershowitz charged.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.