WikiLeaks, Journalism, and Social Media; Oh my!

Love it or hate it, WikiLeaks is alive and kicking. And right now the concept of WikiLeaks is disturbing the peace within the political community, especially of those who have secrets to hide. Has social media assisted WikiLeaks with the ease of shifting incriminating information, allowing journalists to relax/slack off in their roles? The WikiLeaks saga has opened up a series of debates, triggering me to also wonder if governments around the world are shaking in their shiny black shoes and considering a more trustworthy approach in their future business dealings.WikiLeaks, a website that published leaked documents alleging government and corporate misconduct, was founded by an Australian man who goes by the name Julian Assange. The official website, WikiLeaks.org, has since been shut down by the U.S Government. However,  WikiLeaks is currently mirrored on 507 sites, and I suspect this number will continue to rise. With mirrors of the site already published in over 500 websites worldwide, I expect many others will jump aboard the leaking ship and follow suit.For those who haven't yet heard of WikiLeaks, it is quite simply a not-for-profit media organisation with the main aim of bringing important news and information to the public. They have succeeded so far, even if it means disrupting what was already an awkward state of affairs in global politics.WikiLeaks describes itself as an independent global group of people (accredited journalists, software programmers, network engineers, mathematicians and others) with a long-standing dedication to the idea of a free press and the improved transparency in society that comes from this.The way in which WikiLeaks works is by combining the latest and security technologies with the principles that they believe to be the foundation of ethical journalism - and viola! What was previously top-secret government documents are now available to the public for whatever means - you can store it, share it, further investigate, or trash it - it's ours for the taking.There have been some skepticism regarding the credibility of WikiLeaks, with many questioning whether its published documents are valid. But WikiLeaks assures us that all news stories are assessed and their validity tested, and this is done by submitting a document through an extremely detailed examination procedure.So how does WikiLeaks tie in with social media? First of all, I have questioned whether or not websites like WikiLeaks devalue the art of journalism, and came up with several of my own theories. As most of us are aware, social media is a fantastic platform for sharing almost everything, right?Well, WikiLeaks has provided a platform for whistleblowers to share information in a way that simply wasn't possible before. And rather than competing with mainstream media, it has provided a whole new channel for information sharing, not only for media but for society as a whole.A journalist's role is to break down, contextualise and and explain complex issues to a wide audience in a manner that is both entertaining and easy to grasp. News production works in a cyclic and formulaic way that has very little to do with WikLeaks' existence. There are obviously a few differences between mainstream media and the concept of WikiLeaks.WikiLeaks and social media combined can instantly eliminate everything that goes with broadcasting and publishing hard news bar the truth. And rather than competition between news outlets for breaking scoops, the big issue at hand is how much access to information the public should have and whether a completely transparent system of government is viable option or a utopic fantasy.According to Ruth Harper, making information available is not enough for today’s public, and that today’s audiences "expect to be able to choose what they read, and most believe they should be able to contribute content and opinions, too." In Harper's article,The Social Media Revolution: Exploring the Impact on Journalism and News Media Organizations, she states that this shift - sometimes called the social media revolution - is "not the death of journalism as America always knew it," instead it's the "birth of a democratic movement that emphasizes some of journalism’s key factors." Such factors include transparency, honesty, and speaking for those who are unable to voice their thoughts.WikiLeaks have ruptured the status quo to the point where the U.S. Government felt the need to shut down their website. However, through the power of social media, WikiLeaks was able to bounce back with the help of their online counterparts worldwide. And with that, WikiLeaks has been able to continue spreading their organisation's beliefs and ambitions.So if you're a budding journalist, whilst old school may be cool, stop going back and forth scanning and photocopying documents and relying on a courier company to shift them. Have a think about taking advantage of today's technologies and see how efficiently the 'one-click' approach can work for you to get your story out in the open - just as quick as WikiLeaks has done with the secrets of the many powerful organisations and political bodies.Happy file-shifting!