Politics & World • Journalist

Glenn Greenwald

Glenn Greenwald is an American journalist, author, and former lawyer known for his reporting on the Edward Snowden leaks and U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Glenn Greenwald is an American journalist, author, and former lawyer known for his reporting on the Edward Snowden leaks and U.S. surveillance programs. He co-founded The Intercept and has also written for outlets including The Guardian and Salon. He gained international attention in 2013 for publishing reporting based on documents provided by Edward Snowden.

Early life and education

Glenn Greenwald was born in 1967 in Queens, New York. He studied philosophy at George Washington University and earned a law degree from New York University School of Law.

Legal career

Greenwald initially worked as a lawyer, focusing on constitutional and media law litigation. He later shifted to journalism and writing in the mid-2000s.

Snowden reporting

Greenwald became widely known in 2013 for reporting on Edward Snowden's leaked documents. The stories exposed U.S. and allied surveillance practices and brought major journalism awards, including a George Polk Award for National Security Reporting. His work contributed to The Guardian and The Washington Post winning the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Later work and public role

He co-founded The Intercept in 2013 and later departed the outlet in 2020. Greenwald has continued as an independent political commentator and has hosted the program System Update on Rumble.

Key facts

Greenwald gained international attention in 2013 for publishing reporting based on documents provided by Edward Snowden.
His Snowden coverage helped reveal large-scale U.S. National Security Agency surveillance programs.
He won a George Polk Award for National Security Reporting and was part of the reporting that won The Guardian and The Washington Post the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
He co-founded The Intercept in 2013 and later departed the outlet in 2020.
Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a constitutional and media law litigator.

🍁

Canadian context

Greenwald is of interest to Canadian readers because his reporting on surveillance, civil liberties, and media power has had broad international relevance, including in debates about privacy and government oversight in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Glenn Greenwald?

He is an American journalist, author, and former lawyer best known for reporting on Edward Snowden's leaks about government surveillance.

What is Glenn Greenwald known for?

He is best known for publishing reporting based on Snowden's leaked documents, which revealed extensive NSA surveillance programs.

Did Glenn Greenwald co-found The Intercept?

Yes. He co-founded The Intercept in 2013 with Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill.

What awards has Glenn Greenwald won?

He won a George Polk Award for National Security Reporting, and his Snowden reporting contributed to The Guardian and The Washington Post winning the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

What was Glenn Greenwald's career before journalism?

He worked as a constitutional and media law litigator before becoming primarily a journalist and author.

References

Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Glenn-Greenwald
Supports: Birth date and place, occupation, Snowden reporting, awards, and major career overview
U.S. Congress — https://www.congress.gov/117/meeting/house/111315/witnesses/HHRG-117-JU05-Bio-GreenwaldG-20210312.pdf
Supports: Education, legal career, journalistic focus, The Intercept co-founding, and residence
Lannan Foundation — https://lannan.org/bios/glenn-greenwald
Supports: Journalistic career, The Intercept co-founding, Snowden coverage, awards, and book publications
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Greenwald
Supports: Current hosting role, occupation, and general biographical details