PARTICIPANT MEDIA, THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT AND WARNER HOME VIDEO PRESENT PANEL DISCUSSION, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE—THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF THE WHISTLEBLOWER IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 17, 7PM AT NYC PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA

LIVE EVENT FEATURING SUCH FAMED WHISTLEBLOWERS AS FRANK SERPICO AND DANIEL ELLSBERG IS PART OF PARTICIPANT MEDIA’S SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR
THE INFORMANT!

To kick off Participant Media’s social action campaign for Steven Soderbergh’s film The Informant!, Participant Media, The Paley Center for Media, the Government Accountability Project and Warner Home Video will present a panel discussion titled Anyone Can Whistle—The Essential Role of the Whistleblower in American Society on February 17 at 7PM at The Paley Center for Media in New York. Some of the most well-known whistleblowers in history will discuss their own personal experiences as well as the importance of speaking out and advocating change.

“Through our Social Action campaign for The Informant! we have created a way to rally public support and government protection for the courageous whistleblowers responsible for putting criminals behind bars, reclaiming billions of taxpayer dollars and saying countless lives,” said John Schreiber, Participant’s EVP Social Action & Advocacy. “By partnering with the Paley Center, the Government Accountability Project and Warner Home Video, we are bringing these heroes together for one memorable evening to present the inside stories and case studies of these real life dramas.

"The Paley Center is committed to exploring all the ways in which media impacts society, and among the topics for critical consideration is the role that media can play in exposing corporate and government malfeasance," says Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. We are excited to be partnering with Participant Media which is committed to producing films and documentaries that raise awareness and promote social change to further their exploration of the role of courageous journalists and brave individual whistleblowers."

"Whistleblowers are the key to rooting out corrupt and unsafe practices within corporations and other institutions," stated Louis Clark. President of GAP. "This inspiring
event will honor whistleblowers, remind us why they are so vital to our democracy, and call upon each of us to take action to support these courageous Americans."

Participants will include such notable whistleblowers as Mike German (who exposed the FBI’s use of illegal wiretaps); Kit Foshee (who, as Director of Quality Assurance/Food Safety disclosed a major American beef supplier falsely claimed its ammonia process removed pathogens from the meet), Meat Safety Whistleblower); Cathy Harris (a U.S. customs official who blew the whistle on racial profiling); Babak Pasdar (a telecommunications security expert who exposed the company’s providing access of all its cell phone data to the federal government); Daniel Ellsberg (former Rand Corporation/DOD analyst whose Pentagon Papers disclosed the truth about the Vietnam War; and Frank Serpico (former NYPD detective whose whistleblowing activities were memorably portrayed by Al Pacino in the 1973 film). Dr. David Kessler, former FDA Commissioner who challenged the tobacco industry by attempting to regulate cigarettes, will also participate. NPR/Fox News’ Juan Williams will moderate a portion of the evening.

The event, which will be offered live via satellite and streaming video at both Livestream.com/TheInformant and Facebook.com/TakePart, is part of the Paley Center’s Robert M. Batscha University Seminar Series, generously funded by Dick Wolf.

Warner Home Video will release The Informant! on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 23. Starring Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey, the film was directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay written by Scott Z. Burns, based on the book The Informant (A True Story) by Kurt Eichenwald.  The film’s producers are Gregory Jacobs, Jennifer Fox, Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein, Kurt Eichenwald, with George Clooney, Jeff Skoll and Michael London serving as Executive Producers. A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation in association with Participant Media and Groundswell Productions. A Section Eight-Jaffe/Braunstein Enterprise.

What was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Whitacre suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion. But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a kind of de facto secret agent. Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn’t been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers. Whitacre’s ever-changing account frustrates the agents and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre’s rambling imagination. Based on the true story of the highest-ranking corporate whistleblower in U.S. history.

About Participant Media
Participant Media is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television, as well as publishing and digital media.  Participant Media is headed by CEO Jim Berk and was founded in 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Ricky Strauss is President.

Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that bring to the forefront real issues that shape our lives.  For each of its projects, Participant creates extensive social action and advocacy programs which provide ideas and tools to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action.  Participant’s films include The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson’s War, Darfur Now, An Inconvenient Truth, Good Night and Good Luck., Syriana, Standard Operating Procedure, The Visitor, The Soloist, Food, Inc. and The Informant! www.participantmedia.com

About The Paley Center for Media
The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center examines the intersections between media and society. The general public can access the collection and participate in programs that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1976 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry.  For more information, please visit www.paleycenter.org.


About The Governmental Accountability Project
The Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization.  Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, GAP’s mission is to project the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability.  Founded in 1977, GAP is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. www.whistleblower.org