2 July, 2025 Siobhan Marie Day 0 Comments 6 categories
In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg — a military analyst with access to top-secret documents — did something few dared. He leaked the Pentagon Papers, a classified report detailing decades of U.S. government deception surrounding the Vietnam War. Just over four decades later, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden followed a similar path, revealing sweeping surveillance programs that monitored millions of Americans. These two moments, bookends of an evolving age of information and disinformation, stand as cultural and political flashpoints in the history of transparency, journalism, and accountability. But how did these whistleblowers reshape the role of the press — and how has film and television preserved their legacies?

A Deep Dive into Whistleblowing, National Security, and the Power of the Press…

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg — a military analyst with access to top-secret documents — did something few dared. He leaked the Pentagon Papers, a classified report detailing decades of U.S. government deception surrounding the Vietnam War. Just over four decades later, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden followed a similar path, revealing sweeping surveillance programs that monitored millions of Americans. These two moments, bookends of an evolving age of information and disinformation, stand as cultural and political flashpoints in the history of transparency, journalism, and accountability.

But how did these whistleblowers reshape the role of the press — and how has film and television preserved their legacies?

Leaked by former RAND Corporation analyst Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, the Papers exposed how successive presidents had escalated the conflict in Vietnam while privately doubting its chances of success. The release of the Papers constituted a seismic breach in governmental control over classified information and sent shockwaves through the media and political establishment. For many Americans, the Pentagon Papers were a jarring confirmation of their worst fears — that their government had lied to them for decades, sacrificing thousands of lives in a war that was, from early on, deemed unwinnable.
Some of the papers from the archive of Daniel Ellsberg are pictured at UMass Amherst in Amherst, MA on Sep. 19, 2019. Ellsberg, a top-rated war analyst who in 1971 leaked a massive, top-secret history of the American involvement in Vietnam - the so-called Pentagon Papers that exposed deception and mistakes by five US presidents - has chosen a home for his massive archive. The papers are going to the University of Massachusetts flagship campus here, where researchers will be able to pore over a catastrophic conflict in Southeast Asia, where 58,000 American lives were lost in a foreign war whose fateful lessons have echoed now across two generations. The university has acquired the papers for $2.2 million, most of which - $1.35 million - was provided by an anonymous donor, the university said Monday. The rest of the money will come from the universitys special collections fund. Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Leaked by former RAND Corporation analyst Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, the Papers exposed how successive presidents had escalated the conflict in Vietnam while privately doubting its chances of success. The release of the Papers constituted a seismic breach in governmental control over classified information and sent shockwaves through the media and political establishment. For many Americans, the Pentagon Papers were a jarring confirmation of their worst fears — that their government had lied to them for decades, sacrificing thousands of lives in a war that was, from early on, deemed unwinnable.
Pentagon Papers, papers that contain a history of the U.S. role in Indochina from World War II until May 1968 and that were commissioned in 1967 by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They were turned over (without authorization) to The New York Times by Daniel Ellsberg, a senior research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for International Studies.
American involvement in Vietnam can stretch back as far as the end of World War II, depending on how you define “involvement,” but one thing is for sure; when the U.S. committed its combat troops to defend South Vietnam, things got hot almost immediately. The most stunning example of the ferocity of Vietnam battlegrounds is the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang, the first time the U.S. Army fought a major battle against the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN), North Vietnam’s regular forces. Photo Credit: Uited States Army
FILE - In this July 28, 1971 file photo, Daniel Ellsberg, former Defense Department researcher who leaked top-secret Pentagon papers to the press, speaks to an unofficial House panel investigating the significance of the war documents, as Rep. Don Edwards, D-Calif., right, looks on, in Washington. The WikiLeak documents have been compared to the Pentagon Papers, an internal government study of U.S. involvement in Vietnam that was commissioned in 1967 and were leaked, including a memo that stated the reason for fighting in Vietnam was based far more on preserving U.S. prestige than preventing communism or helping the Vietnamese. AP Photo, file
Edward Snowden, 2013.
In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg — a military analyst with access to top-secret documents — did something few dared. He leaked the Pentagon Papers, a classified report detailing decades of U.S. government deception surrounding the Vietnam War. Just over four decades later, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden followed a similar path, revealing sweeping surveillance programs that monitored millions of Americans. These two moments, bookends of an evolving age of information and disinformation, stand as cultural and political flashpoints in the history of transparency, journalism, and accountability. But how did these whistleblowers reshape the role of the press — and how has film and television preserved their legacies?
The decade following The Post’s release — 2017 to 2024 — has witnessed increasing polarization of the press, the rise of disinformation, and unprecedented hostility toward journalism from within the government itself. Figures like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Reality Winner have evoked comparisons to Ellsberg, raising questions about the ethics of leaks, the limits of press protection, and the blurred line between transparency and treason.
In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg — a military analyst with access to top-secret documents — did something few dared. He leaked the Pentagon Papers, a classified report detailing decades of U.S. government deception surrounding the Vietnam War. Just over four decades later, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden followed a similar path, revealing sweeping surveillance programs that monitored millions of Americans. These two moments, bookends of an evolving age of information and disinformation, stand as cultural and political flashpoints in the history of transparency, journalism, and accountability. But how did these whistleblowers reshape the role of the press — and how has film and television preserved their legacies?

The Pentagon Papers: The Leak That Changed Journalism

Steven Spielberg’s 2017 film The Post dramatizes one of the most important moments in American journalistic history: The Washington Post’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers after The New York Times had already begun releasing segments of the leaked documents.

Steven Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński directing "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, and Written by Josh Singer, and Liz Hannah, and Produced by Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Amy Pascal, Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys, with Cinematography by Janusz Kamiński, and Edited by Michael Kahn, and Sarah Broshar, and Music by John Williams, with Production companies: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media, Amblin Partners, Amblin Entertainment, Pascal Pictures, and Star Thrower Entertainment, and Distributed by 20th Century Fox
The Washington Post in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
The Washinton Post printing press in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
On June 18, 1971, The Washington Post began publishing its own series of articles based upon the Pentagon Papers;[11] Ellsberg had given portions to The Washington Post reporter and former RAND Corporation colleague Ben Bagdikian in a Boston-area motel earlier that week.[54] Bagdikian flew with the portions to Washington and physically presented them to executive editor Ben Bradlee at the latter's house in the Georgetown neighborhood; Bradlee set up a team of writers, lawyers and editors to hide out in his house and organize the portions.[55] Bagdikian later met with Mike Gravel in front of the Mayflower Hotel on June 26[42] to give him copies.[47][43][44][45][46] On June 18, Assistant U.S. Attorney General William Rehnquist asked The Washington Post to cease publication. After the paper refused, Rehnquist sought an injunction in U.S. district court. Judge Murray Gurfein declined to issue such an injunction, writing that "[t]he security of the Nation is not at the ramparts alone. Security also lies in the value of our free institutions. A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know."[56] The government appealed that decision, and on June 26 the Supreme Court agreed to hear it jointly with The New York Times case.[53] Fifteen other newspapers received copies of the study and began publishing it.[11] According to Ellsberg in 2017 and 2021, 19 newspapers in total eventually drew on the Papers for their investigative work;[57][35] the Post's then-court reporter Sanford J. Ungar wrote in his May 1972 book The Papers and The Papers that aside from the Times and the Post, The Boston Globe and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had also been brought to court by the Nixon administration over coverage of the Papers.

The story isn’t just about a newspaper. It’s about a woman — Katharine “Kay” Graham — stepping into her power as publisher. It’s about the collision between government secrecy and the First Amendment. And it’s about a country deep in the shadow of Vietnam, reeling from decades of untruths.

Katharine Graham (born June 16, 1917, New York, New York, U.S.—died July 17, 2001, Boise, Idaho) was an American business executive who owned and published various news publications, most notably The Washington Post, which she transformed into one of the leading newspapers in the United States. She was especially known for supporting the Post’s investigation into the Watergate scandal.
Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Matthew Rhys as Daniel Ellsberg in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Brett Diggs and Saul Alvarez in in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Leaked by former RAND Corporation analyst Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, the Papers exposed how successive presidents had escalated the conflict in Vietnam while privately doubting its chances of success. The release of the Papers constituted a seismic breach in governmental control over classified information and sent shockwaves through the media and political establishment. For many Americans, the Pentagon Papers were a jarring confirmation of their worst fears — that their government had lied to them for decades, sacrificing thousands of lives in a war that was, from early on, deemed unwinnable.
In this June 21, 1971 file photo, Katharine Graham, left, publisher of The Washington Post, and Ben Bradlee, executive editor of The Washington Post, leave U.S. District Court in Washington after getting the go-ahead to print the Pentagon papers on Vietnam. Later, the U.S. Court of Appeals extended the ban against publishing the secret documents for one day. Graham and Bradlee are portrayed by Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in the Oscar nominated film "The Post," which deals with the publishing of the Pentagon papers. (AP Photo, File)

What made this leak so impactful was not just the content of the papers, but the legal and ethical precedent it established. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the press, solidifying that “prior restraint” — or government censorship before publication — was unconstitutional. The ruling empowered journalists to pursue the truth, even in the face of immense political pressure.

Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
The Washington Post played a significant role in the controversy surrounding the Pentagon Papers. The Pentagon Papers: This was a top-secret study commissioned by the Department of Defense, detailing the history of the United States' political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. It revealed that successive presidential administrations had misled the public about the extent of US involvement and the likelihood of success in the Vietnam War. The study showed how the US government had escalated its commitment to the war, while concealing growing pessimism about its chances of victory. Washington Post's Involvement: After the New York Times began publishing articles based on the leaked documents, the Nixon administration sought a court order to halt publication. The Washington Post also obtained copies of the Pentagon Papers and, led by publisher Katharine Graham and executive editor Ben Bradlee, courageously decided to publish its own series of articles before being similarly enjoined. The government subsequently sought an injunction against the Post as well, but this was refused. The Washington Post joined The New York Times in fighting the government's attempts to stop publication through the courts, leading to a landmark Supreme Court case, *New York Times Co. v. United States*. The Supreme Court Ruling: In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the newspapers, including The Washington Post, allowing them to continue publishing the Pentagon Papers. The Court held that the government had failed to meet the heavy burden of proof required for prior restraint, affirming the freedom of the press to publish the material. Impact: The Washington Post's decision to publish and its victory in the Supreme Court were critical in upholding press freedom in the face of government pressure. This landmark ruling significantly shaped the future of national security journalism and the relationship between the press and the government. The revelations in the Pentagon Papers, including those published by The Washington Post, contributed to the growing public distrust of the government and fueled the anti-war movement. The controversy surrounding the Pentagon Papers also played a role in the Watergate scandal, as the Nixon administration's efforts to discredit the leaker, Daniel Ellsberg, led to the formation of the "Plumbers" unit, which was later involved in the Watergate break-in.

Enter Snowden: The Modern-Day Ellsberg?

Edward Snowden’s 2013 leak of NSA documents — revealing the scale of domestic and international surveillance — reignited debates over national security, privacy, and press freedom. But unlike Ellsberg, Snowden didn’t turn himself in. He fled, first to Hong Kong, then Russia, where he remains in exile.

Edward Snowden’s 2013 leak of NSA documents — revealing the scale of domestic and international surveillance — reignited debates over national security, privacy, and press freedom. But unlike Ellsberg, Snowden didn't turn himself in. He fled, first to Hong Kong, then Russia, where he remains in exile.
Surveillance camera with face recognition system
Leaked by former RAND Corporation analyst Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, the Papers exposed how successive presidents had escalated the conflict in Vietnam while privately doubting its chances of success. The release of the Papers constituted a seismic breach in governmental control over classified information and sent shockwaves through the media and political establishment. For many Americans, the Pentagon Papers were a jarring confirmation of their worst fears — that their government had lied to them for decades, sacrificing thousands of lives in a war that was, from early on, deemed unwinnable.
Edward Snowden’s 2013 leak of NSA documents — revealing the scale of domestic and international surveillance — reignited debates over national security, privacy, and press freedom. But unlike Ellsberg, Snowden didn't turn himself in. He fled, first to Hong Kong, then Russia, where he remains in exile.
Edward Snowden’s 2013 leak of NSA documents — revealing the scale of domestic and international surveillance — reignited debates over national security, privacy, and press freedom. But unlike Ellsberg, Snowden didn't turn himself in. He fled, first to Hong Kong, then Russia, where he remains in exile.
Edward Snowden’s 2013 leak of NSA documents — revealing the scale of domestic and international surveillance — reignited debates over national security, privacy, and press freedom. But unlike Ellsberg, Snowden didn't turn himself in. He fled, first to Hong Kong, then Russia, where he remains in exile.

His story, chronicled in Laura Poitras’s Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour (2014) and dramatized in Oliver Stone’s Snowden (2016), questions the price of truth in a digital age. While Ellsberg was vilified, then later vindicated, Snowden’s legacy remains divisive. Hero? Traitor? It depends on who you ask. What’s certain is that he forced a global conversation on the limits of government surveillance — and the responsibilities of those who expose it.

(L-R) Mathilde Bonnefo, Laura Poitras and Dirk Wilutzky pose with their Oscars for Best Documentary Feature for "Citizen Four" in the press room during the 87th Oscars on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Directed by Laura Poitras Produced by Laura Poitras Mathilde Bonnefoy Dirk Wilutzky Starring Edward Snowden Glenn Greenwald William Binney Jacob Appelbaum Ewen MacAskill Cinematography Kirsten Johnson Trevor Paglen Katy Scoggin Edited by Mathilde Bonnefoy Production companies HBO Documentary Films[1] Participant Media Praxis Films Distributed by Radius-TWC
Oliver Stone directing "Snowden" (2016) Photo Credit: Open Road Films
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden in "Snowden" (2016) Photo Credit: Open Road Films
Directed by Oliver Stone Screenplay by Kieran Fitzgerald Oliver Stone Based on The Snowden Files by Luke Harding Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena Produced by Moritz Borman Eric Kopeloff Philip Schulz-Deyle Fernando Sulichin Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt Shailene Woodley Melissa Leo Zachary Quinto Tom Wilkinson Scott Eastwood Logan Marshall-Green Timothy Olyphant Ben Schnetzer LaKeith Lee Stanfield Rhys Ifans Nicolas Cage Cinematography Anthony Dod Mantle Edited by Alex Marquez Lee Percy Music by Craig Armstrong Production companies Endgame Entertainment Vendian Entertainment KrautPack Entertainment Distributed by Open Road Films (United States) Universum Film/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany (Germany)[1] Pathé Distribution (France)[2]
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ben Schnetzer in "Snowden" (2016) Photo Credit: Open Road Films
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden in "Snowden" (2016) Photo Credit: Open Road Films
His story, chronicled in Laura Poitras’s Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour (2014) and dramatized in Oliver Stone’s Snowden (2016), questions the price of truth in a digital age. While Ellsberg was vilified, then later vindicated, Snowden’s legacy remains divisive. Hero? Traitor? It depends on who you ask. What’s certain is that he forced a global conversation on the limits of government surveillance — and the responsibilities of those who expose it.

Whistleblowers in Film and TV: Cultural Conscience or Hollywood Drama?

From The Post to Citizenfour, and even fictionalized interpretations in series like The Newsroom or Mr. Robot, whistleblowers are often portrayed as reluctant heroes, isolated and burdened by knowledge the public deserves to know. These characters — whether real or fictional — echo a deep mistrust of unchecked power, reminding viewers that history is often shaped by the brave few who dare to speak.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, and Written by Josh Singer, and Liz Hannah, and Produced by Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Amy Pascal, Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys, with Cinematography by Janusz Kamiński, and Edited by Michael Kahn, and Sarah Broshar, and Music by John Williams, with Production companies: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media, Amblin Partners, Amblin Entertainment, Pascal Pictures, and Star Thrower Entertainment, and Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Directed by Laura Poitras Produced by Laura Poitras Mathilde Bonnefoy Dirk Wilutzky Starring Edward Snowden Glenn Greenwald William Binney Jacob Appelbaum Ewen MacAskill Cinematography Kirsten Johnson Trevor Paglen Katy Scoggin Edited by Mathilde Bonnefoy Production companies HBO Documentary Films[1] Participant Media Praxis Films Distributed by Radius-TWC
Genre: Political drama, Created and written by Aaron Sorkin, Starring: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, Sam Waterston, with Theme music composer: Thomas Newman, and Composers: Alex Wurman, Johnny Klimek, and Jeff Beal, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of seasons: 3, No. of episodes: 25, Executive producers: Aaron Sorkin, Scott Rudin, Alan Poul, Paul Lieberstein, and Denis Biggs, Production locations: Los Angeles, New York City, with Cinematography by Todd McMullen, Running time: 52–64 minutes, 73 minutes (pilot), Production company: HBO Entertainment, Original Network: HBO (2012-14)
Genre Drama Techno-thriller Psychological thriller Created by Sam Esmail Showrunner Sam Esmail Directed by Sam Esmail Various (season 1) Starring Rami Malek Carly Chaikin Portia Doubleday Martin Wallström Christian Slater Michael Cristofer Stephanie Corneliussen Grace Gummer BD Wong Bobby Cannavale Elliot Villar Ashlie Atkinson Composer Mac Quayle Country of origin United States Original language English No. of seasons 4 No. of episodes 45 (list of episodes) Production Executive producers Sam Esmail Steve Golin Chad Hamilton Joseph E. Iberti Kyle Bradstreet Producers Igor Srubshchik Christian Slater Rami Malek Production location New York City Cinematography Tod Campbell Tim Ives (pilot) Camera setup Single-camera Running time 40–65 minutes Production companies Esmail Corp (seasons 2–4) Anonymous Content Universal Content Productions Original release Network USA Network
Matthew Rhys as Daniel Ellsberg in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.
Stephen McKinley Henderson as Solomon Hancock on "The Newsroom" (2012-14) Photo Credit: HBO
Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson on "Mr. Robot" (2015-19) Photo Credit: USA Network
Matthew Rhys as Daniel Ellsberg in "The Post" (2017) Photo by Niko Tavernise - © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation And Storyteller Distribution Co. Llc. All Rights Reserved.

Boardwalk Empire, while not about whistleblowers, tackles similar themes of corruption, secrecy, and political manipulation. It reminds us that the past is filled with power brokers operating in the shadows — and that the line between public good and personal gain is often blurred.

Genre: Crime drama, Period drama, Serial drama, Created by Terence Winter, and Based on "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City" by Nelson Johnson, Starring: Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham, Vincent Piazza, Paz de la Huerta, Michael Kenneth Williams, Anthony Laciura, Paul Sparks, Dabney Coleman, Jack Huston, Gretchen Mol, Charlie Cox, Bobby Cannavale, Ron Livingston, Jeffrey Wright, Ben Rosenfield, with Theme music composer: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Opening theme: "Straight Up and Down", Country of origin: United States, with Original language: English, No. of seasons: 5, No. of episodes: 56, with Executive producers: Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Tim Van Patten, Howard Korder, and Stephen Levinson, and Production location: New York City, with Editors: Kate Stanford, and Tim Streeto, with Camera setup: Single-camera, and Running time: 50–73 minutes, with Production companies: HBO Entertainment, Leverage Entertainment, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions, Cold Front Productions, Original release Network: HBO

Leaks, Legacy, and Public Trust

The core of every leak — whether it’s the Pentagon Papers, the Snowden files, or the Facebook Papers — is a question of trust. Trust in institutions. Trust in government. Trust in the press.

The core of every leak — whether it's the Pentagon Papers, the Snowden files, or the Facebook Papers — is a question of trust. Trust in institutions. Trust in government. Trust in the press.
The core of every leak — whether it's the Pentagon Papers, the Snowden files, or the Facebook Papers — is a question of trust. Trust in institutions. Trust in government. Trust in the press.
The core of every leak — whether it's the Pentagon Papers, the Snowden files, or the Facebook Papers — is a question of trust. Trust in institutions. Trust in government. Trust in the press.

These stories endure not only because of what was revealed, but because of how the public — and history — responded. Whistleblowers hold up a mirror to the systems we rely on and ask us to decide: What do we value more — secrecy or accountability?

As The Post powerfully suggests, “The only way to assert the right to publish… is to publish.”

The decade following The Post’s release — 2017 to 2024 — has witnessed increasing polarization of the press, the rise of disinformation, and unprecedented hostility toward journalism from within the government itself. Figures like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Reality Winner have evoked comparisons to Ellsberg, raising questions about the ethics of leaks, the limits of press protection, and the blurred line between transparency and treason.
Julian Assange WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at a press conference, 2010.
These stories endure not only because of what was revealed, but because of how the public — and history — responded. Whistleblowers hold up a mirror to the systems we rely on and ask us to decide: What do we value more — secrecy or accountability?
Reality Leigh Winner (born December 4, 1991)[5][6] is an American U.S. Air Force veteran and former NSA translator. In 2018, she was given the longest prison sentence ever imposed for an unauthorized release of government information to the media[7] after she leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.[8] She was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison.[9] On June 3, 2017, while employed by the military contractor Pluribus International Corporation, Winner was arrested on suspicion of leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections from the National Security Agency (NSA) to the news website The Intercept. The report indicated that Russian hackers accessed voter registration rolls in the United States with an email phishing operation,[10] though it was unclear whether any changes had been made. The Intercept's mishandling of the material exposed her as the source and led to her arrest.[11] Twice denied bail, Winner was held at the Lincoln County Jail in Lincolnton, Georgia.[12] On August 23, 2018, Winner was convicted of "removing classified material from a government facility and mailing it to a news outlet" and sentenced to five years and three months in prison as part of a plea deal.[13] She was incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, and released to a transitional facility on June 2, 2021.

Final Thoughts: Why It Still Matters

At a time when truth is often contested, whistleblowing — and the journalism that supports it — remains a vital check on power. Movies and television don’t just entertain us with these stories; they preserve and provoke our collective memory. They remind us that history is not always written by the victors — sometimes it’s leaked, one classified page at a time.

📚 Read more from our “Legacy & Impact” series this month on MoviesToHistory.com
🎥 Explore related features on The Post, Boardwalk Empire, and the real figures behind the fiction.

A whistle blowing the reasons one might be a whistleblower. Photo Credit: Google Images
Directed by Steven Spielberg, and Written by Josh Singer, and Liz Hannah, and Produced by Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Amy Pascal, Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys, with Cinematography by Janusz Kamiński, and Edited by Michael Kahn, and Sarah Broshar, and Music by John Williams, with Production companies: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media, Amblin Partners, Amblin Entertainment, Pascal Pictures, and Star Thrower Entertainment, and Distributed by 20th Century Fox

The Post is available now to rent on all streaming platforms…

Genre: Crime drama, Period drama, Serial drama, Created by Terence Winter, and Based on "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City" by Nelson Johnson, Starring: Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham, Vincent Piazza, Paz de la Huerta, Michael Kenneth Williams, Anthony Laciura, Paul Sparks, Dabney Coleman, Jack Huston, Gretchen Mol, Charlie Cox, Bobby Cannavale, Ron Livingston, Jeffrey Wright, Ben Rosenfield, with Theme music composer: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Opening theme: "Straight Up and Down", Country of origin: United States, with Original language: English, No. of seasons: 5, No. of episodes: 56, with Executive producers: Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Tim Van Patten, Howard Korder, and Stephen Levinson, and Production location: New York City, with Editors: Kate Stanford, and Tim Streeto, with Camera setup: Single-camera, and Running time: 50–73 minutes, with Production companies: HBO Entertainment, Leverage Entertainment, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions, Cold Front Productions, Original release Network: HBO

Boardwalk Empire is available now with a subscription to Max…

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