As I have written before, I believe that Snowden is a hero who is risking his life and has sacrificed his liberty to blow the whistle on the profound violations of our human right to freedom from surveillance. This long article, How Laura Poitras Helped Snowden Spill His Secrets by Peter Maass, published on August 13, 2013 in the New York Times Magazine, is well worth your time. It describes the dangers and difficulties being faced by those to whom Snowden entrusted the information he wanted to expose in order to wake us all up before it’s too late. Why did Snowden select Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald to trust? Peter Maass explains:

“In our encrypted chat, Snowden explained why he went to Poitras with his secrets: ‘Laura and Glenn are among the few who reported fearlessly on controversial topics throughout this period, even in the face of withering personal criticism, [which] resulted in Laura specifically becoming targeted by the very programs involved in the recent disclosures. She had demonstrated the courage, personal experience and skill needed to handle what is probably the most dangerous assignment any journalist can be given — reporting on the secret misdeeds of the most powerful government in the world — making her an obvious choice.’”

My reaction to reading this profile of “a day in the lives” of Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald is one of admiration. The dedication they both have to protecting Snowden from harm, yet putting themselves under constant surveillance, is awe-inspiring. I’m looking forward to Laura’s documentary.