The Guardian Australia held it first live event last night, with editor of The Guardian UK Alan Rusbridger, talking to how the news organisation dealt with the fallout from publishing the Edward Snowden leaks.
The stories published by The Guardian rippled around the world and set off a vigorous debate around privacy and the role the state should play in not only the lives of individuals but also in newsrooms.
Rusbridger told a full-house at Redfern's Carriageworks that as an organisation The Guardian faced some immense pressure from the British parliament, with the state even saying there had been enough debate around the issue and the paper should stop publishing.
“We as journalists stand independent from power, we stand independent from power in order to look at it and question it,” Rusbridger said.
“We stand for responsible disclosure, not secretary and if we can’t understand that relationship with power, that we stand aside from it, then we're in trouble.”
Rusbridger also spoke of Australian Attorney General Senator George Brandis and his stance on whistle-blowers and the work of the Guardian, reading what Brandis has previously told parliament about the Edward Snowden leaks.
“I wonder how you can sit in this parliament and hold your head up high when you celebrate a man who though criminal conduct and treachery put Australian lives at risk,” Brandis said.
This was the first Guardian Live event held in Australia and managing director of the Australian operation, Ian McClelland, previously told AdNews that The Guardian was looking to get involved in more events like this one, citing that the “knowledge industry” is taking off.
“I'm really excited about this whole industry,” McClelland told AdNews. “I call it the knowledge industry, this whole idea that entertainment doesn’t have to be about theatre or film, it can actually be about self edification, learning new things and listening to interesting people.”
For more news:
Guardian has more native briefs than it can get a handle on
The Guardian shakes up web layout, revamps ad offering
Guardian chief blasts Aussie dinosaurs
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