In Canada civil servants and researchers would go on the record when they spoke to the press. Those type of "leaks" were very different from the current ones that have anonymous people attributing beliefs to 3rd parties that promptly deny.
The real lesson is that when the media doesn't do its job of ensuring leaks are accurate (where is the proof? can I see some documents?) they descend into partisan attacks which discredit them and weaken the role of the media as a check against executive power. Wikileaks is the role model: its leaks were factual and credible and could be checked for accuracy.
The real lesson is that when the media doesn't do its job of ensuring leaks are accurate (where is the proof? can I see some documents?) they descend into partisan attacks which discredit them and weaken the role of the media as a check against executive power. Wikileaks is the role model: its leaks were factual and credible and could be checked for accuracy.