Julian Assange: Freedom This Time, No Thanks to the Media

Julian Assange has been released after 14 years of detention, including time in Belmarsh prison and the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The United States sought his extradition for publishing state crimes. The media, led by outlets like the Guardian, played a significant role in keeping Assange behind bars by demonizing him and spreading disinformation. Despite being reunited with his family, the media continues to perpetuate falsehoods about him, such as the debunked rape charges in Sweden and endangering US informants. The media's failure to act as a watchdog on power allowed Assange's prolonged confinement. Assange's case highlights the establishment's tendency to vilify messengers of inconvenient truths while protecting those responsible for the crimes exposed. The biased reporting and character assassination by the media, including the Guardian and the BBC, contributed to Assange's prolonged detention. The media's focus on Assange's character flaws diverted attention from the real perpetrators of state crimes he exposed, like Tony Blair and George W. Bush. Assange's release underscores the importance of holding the media accountable for their role in shaping public perception and influencing justice.