Julian Assange

Julian Assange is an Australian journalist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He served as editor of WikiLeaks until September 2018.

WikiLeaks’ publications have had enormous impact worldwide. They have shed light upon a vast array of staggering government and corporate misdeeds, bringing a clearer understanding of how power functions in the 21st century.

Along with an unmatched record of import and accuracy, WikiLeaks has also shaped the practice of journalism with their sophisticated methods of document encryption and source protection. They have constantly been at the forefront of debates about press freedom, transparency, and the public’s right to know. For their fearless publications, Julian and WikiLeaks have garnered a trove of high media honors and awards.

However, solely for his award-winning journalistic activity – and for no other reason – Julian is currently imprisoned in London’s notorious Belmarsh Prison. He has faced more than a decade of restrictions upon his liberty and remains unable to see his family, receive proper medical attention, or carry out his vital editorial work with WikiLeaks.

We invite you to follow Julian’s case (UK, US official campaign) and contribute to his legal defense fund. Thank you for supporting Julian and press freedom.

 

Awards

WikiLeaks, its publisher and its journalists have won many awards, including:

The Economist New Media Award (2008)
The Amnesty New Media Award (2009)
TIME Magazine Person of the Year, People’s Choice (highest global vote) (2010)
The Sam Adams Award for Integrity (2010)
The National Union of Journalists Journalist of the Year (Hrafnsson) (2011)
The Sydney Peace Foundation Gold Medal (2011)
The Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism (2011)
The Blanquerna Award for Best Communicator (2011)
The Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism (2011)
The Voltaire Award for Free Speech (2011)
The International Piero Passetti Journalism Prize of the National Union of Italian Journalists (2011)
The Jose Couso Press Freedom Award (2011)
The Privacy International Hero of Privacy (2012)
The Global Exchange Human Rights People’s Choice Award (2013)
The Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award for the Arts (2013)
The Brazillian Press Association Human Rights Award (2013)
The Kazakstan Union of Journalists Top Prize (2014)
The Willy Brandt Award for Political Courage (Harrison) (2015)
The Galizia Prize for Journalists, Whistelblower and Defenders of the Right to Information (2019)
The Danny Schechter Global Vision Award for Journalism & Activism (2019)
The Gavin MacFadyen Award (2019)
Journalists Club of Mexico’s International Journalism Award (2019)
The Catalan Dignity Commission’s Dignity Award (2019)

WikiLeaks has also been nominated for the UN Mandela Prize in 2015 and for the Nobel Peace Prize seven times (2010-2015, 2019).