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The Fourth Estate’s Digital Evolution: Assessing the Ripple Effects of Wikileaks

Abstract This paper discusses Wikileaks as a digital archive of classified information that contributes to how the Fourth Estate functions in light of recent developments in digital news media. My research considers Wikileaks’ published classified materials on the digital platform in relation to the traditional methods of leaking classified information in journalism. I argue that, through its digital archive, Wikileaks has effectively constructed a network between itself, journalists, citizens and the government. Wikileaks represents a historic development in the dissemination of classified information. Introduction Fundamental processes of democracy involving free speech and a free press have been preserved by whistleblowers engaging with the press throughout history. The significance of the press in assisting public scrutiny and upholding democratic processes is seen in the release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 by former U.S. military analyst Daniel Ellsberg. 1
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EARL & KIMPORT, GURAK, TRUST AND PRESENCE IN DIGITAL ACTIVIST COMMUNITITES

The occurrence of trust and presence in online activism is supported by the social structure that is connected to the given digital activist community. Interpersonal involvement within these communities provides a basic understanding of the practicality of any activist movement; and this helps to develop trust because the processes attached to the practical needs of an organization show us that we are dependent upon one another in the activist endeavor. Interpersonal relationships support the core growth of online activist communities because an online presence is an outgrowth of a physical presence. In addition, trust and presence are supported in a purely digital interaction through how a website functions. Interrelationships between design and content are capable of building presence in ways that engender trust because the construction of a website is capable of assisting participation.  Trust and presence are created and function in online activism through a sense of self-awa
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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY SECOND PART

The first of two pieces I’ve found that discuss WikiLeaks from the perspective of rhetorical analysis is  Watching the Domestication of the Wikileaks Helicopter Controversy by Marouf A. Hasian. This article considers rhetorical techniques the US government has used to misdirect or distract the public from the "collateral murder" video Wikileaks released. His discussion includes the tendency of in humanity to glorify war in addition to responsible journalism as it relates to documenting tragedies of war on location and the associated ambivalence over these acts by U.S. contractors. Hasian introduces early his discussion “domestication practices” of the government in relation to assimilating difficult facts of war. This is an important discussion point because the author codifies the general practice of familiarizing war by the government, which included flat out false claims of ignorance on behalf of the government over civilian deaths caused by US troops, in efforts to subve
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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FIRST PART

Aharony, Noa. "WikiLeaks comments: a study of responses to articles."  Online Information Review  36.6 (2012): 828-845. Web. 29 October 2014.< http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lib.uwm.edu/docview/1193950884/fulltextPDF?accountid=15078 > The central theme of this article is to analyze public comments made about WikiLeaks in three online publications ( The New York Times, The Guardian, and Ynet ) within the context of online user generated content in a widespread public debate.   The article also addresses "the deliberative democracy theory" originating in the early twentieth century as it relates to modern theory of agnostic pluralism, this contrast addresses how consensus reflects hegemony and disagreement reflects or promotes democratic processes, as they relate to the public sphere.  Hasian Marouf A. "Watching the Domestication of the Wikileaks Helicopter Controversy."  Communication Quarterly  60.2 (2012) 190-209: Web. 30 October 2014. <
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BIBLIOGRAPHY RESEARCH PROCESS

I wanted to I spent a short time finding a couple relevant books in the library dealing with WikiLeaks, and after  I began searching through Google Scholar decided to switch to primarily online articles because there was a wider pool to choose from. I began by looking at what the keyword "WikiLeaks" pulled up. I also checked keywords related to criticism, journalism, and the US government. I noticed different formats were used by the publishers, and I came across one article that looked exactly the same as "Location Matters: The Rhetoric of Place in Protest." Seeing this increased my sense of familiarity with the process. During these initial searches I found "We're Going To Crack The World Open," and this article is a study on how journalists are interacting with WikiLeaks, or not.   I began spending some time searching the UWM libraries database when I was off campus. After logging in and looking for pieces that were peer reviewed only, I typed in
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FIRST DRAFT

WikiLeaks has released classified information from within the US government to the “virtual sphere” which enables public scrutiny of both the leaks and our government (Papacharissi). Furthermore, the dialogues WikiLeaks has generated regarding the issue of leaked US classified documents in virtual spheres, such as online news publications or academic articles, are evidence of the level of value WikiLeaks lends to a public debate over our democracy. Thus, WikiLeaks facilitates a critical relationship between US citizens and their government and strengthens the building blocks of a healthy democracy, which is of course reflected in our constitution with the First Amendment. The digital nature of WikiLeaks assists in circumventing the US government's attempts to contain classified information, thereby placing public knowledge above governmental secrecy. Traditionally speaking, public procurement of leaked information was reliant upon the physical relationships between journalists an
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DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTION

The ripple effect of WikiLeaks brings out questions of privilege.  Classified information carries a public perception - a perception shaped by rhetoric.  How does Wikileaks take down our perceptions of privilege information?  How does Wikileaks create accessibility of information?  How is Wikileaks a newspaper?  In what ways is Wikileaks interchangeable for a go-to newspaper like, for example, The Guardian?  Conducting an analysis of the website will address these questions      
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