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Drop Site News: Jeremy Scahill on Launching Investigative News Outlet with Ryan Grim

Web ExclusiveJuly 09, 2024
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We speak with journalist Jeremy Scahill, co-founder of The Intercept, about how he just announced he is leaving after more than a decade and launched a new investigative journalism outlet Monday called Drop Site News, alongside colleague Ryan Grim. “What Ryan and I are trying to do is build a lean, sustainable, reader-supported news organization that’s going to take big swings at powerful people,” says Scahill. “Our pledge … is to be accountable to the readers, the viewers and the listeners.”

Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: We want to talk about, as we talk about news organizations, your new news organization, Drop Site, Drop Site News. You’ve just left The Intercept, after co-founding it 11 years ago.

JEREMY SCAHILL: Regarding Drop Site News, you know, it’s not any secret that the world that we live in right now has a lot of dark things going on. We urgently need shows like Democracy Now!, institutions of investigative journalism. And what Ryan and I are trying to do is build a lean, sustainable, reader-supported news organization that’s going to take big swings at powerful people, that’s going to work with networks of independent journalists on the ground in countries around the world and inside of the United States, and to operate with no fear or favor of those in power, whether they’re Democrats or Republicans. Our pledge is to — as I know yours is, Amy, and has been for a long time as a journalist — is to be accountable to the readers, the viewers and the listeners.

And I just want to say on a personal level — I said this in my introductory essay for Drop Site News — I’m looking forward to returning to why I got into journalism. And Democracy Now! gave me that opportunity. I’ll never forget when you let me beg my way into cutting reel-to-reel tape on the old-fashioned analog reels. And you taught me about the temerity to ask tough questions and to never back down.

AMY GOODMAN: And finally, Jeremy, why the name Drop Site?

JEREMY SCAHILL: Well, a “drop site” is a term of espionage, where it’s a place where spies can leave a secret for one another. It’s an agreed-upon location. It also is a place where you can drop supplies behind enemy lines, you know, to resupply your forces.

AMY GOODMAN: Five seconds.

JEREMY SCAHILL: It’s also a place where you can drop documents. So, we’re looking forward to working also with whistleblowers.

AMY GOODMAN: Jeremy Scahill, co-founder of the new investigative journalism organization Drop Site News. I’m Amy Goodman. Thanks for joining us.

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