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CitizenFour Documentary about Edward Snowden

CitizenFour

Laura Poitras' documentary, CitizenFour, will screen in Columbian, Mo. on Sunday in conjunction with True/False. The film documents NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's meetings with journalists from the Guardian in a Hong Kong hotel room. Early reviews of the film are strong, and already there's Oscar talk buzzing around it.​ Could this film change public perception? Missouri School of Journalism professors Earnest Perry, Mike McKean and Amy Simons discuss. 

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This is the film many have been waiting a year and a half to see – to go inside that hotel room -  to see how Snowden interacted with reporters, what details he had, what he shared, and what he didn’t. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijzv9I2_p8k

Missouri School of Journalism professor Mike McKean said, while the film breaks some news, ranging from Snowden's girlfriend is now living with him in Russia, to the fact that a second whistleblower has come forward as a result of Snowden, he believes Laura Poitras' story may be the most interesting. 

"It's really amazing to hear what Poitras has gone though, how her exile in Berlin kind of parallels the exile Snowden is facing in Russia."

Missouri School of Journalism professor Earnet Perry said for the past year and half, some governments have tried to distance Snowden from "whistleblowing as we know it" by arguing the actions of him, and others, put people in danger. He remarked he would be interested to see how they respond. 

"The governments themselves are really trying to downplay this film ... I think they are concerned that something new may come out."

Austin Federa left KBIA in May of 2015.
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