Facts are Sacred
On the 5 May 1821, the first edition of the Manchester Guardian was printed. Since that day, the Guardian has established itself as a liberal, progressive newspaper committed to reporting on friend and foe alike. From opposing Britain’s imperialistic Boer War to printing Edward Snowden’s exposé on the erosion of personal privacy, the Guardian has not shirked difficult truths. For two centuries, it has upheld honest, progressive journalism even when unpopular viewpoints affected circulation.
This Manchester-born institution long outgrew its roots, transforming itself from a local newspaper to a global brand but never departing from its founding values.
c. 2010
This smashed laptop once held secrets leaked by American whistle-blower Edward Snowden. Alan Rusbridger, then editor of the Guardian, took considerable risks printing Snowden’s story. The revelations revealed multiple global surveillance programmes run by the US National Security Agency. Guardian staff destroyed the laptop on 20 July 2013 under orders from the British Government.
Ref. GUA/12/5/1/4 Guardian News & Media Archive
The Guardian, London, 2013
Intelligence leaked from the US National Security Agency sent shockwaves around the world, sparking debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy.
Ref. HRL/3092 Guardian News & Media Archive
