On August 5, Whistleblower Network News (WNN) welcomed an Indonesian delegation as part of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The aim of the program is to foster a global collaboration and professional exchange of knowledge and ideas.
The group consisted of six Indonesian transparency and accountability leaders from the government and non-profit sectors, including one media representative. They came to learn how WNN contributes to whistleblower protection efforts in the U.S. and internationally, and its coverage of various government anti-corruption and whistleblower programs.
Jeana Lee and Allison Nguyen, assistant news editors at WNN, emphasized how it combines legal expertise with storytelling to shed light on cases often overlooked by mainstream media. “Unlike traditional outlets, we cover not just headlines, but the people and policies behind them,” Nguyen said. “We aim to inform the public, legal professionals, and policymakers alike.”
Editor-in-Chief Mary Jane Wilmoth highlighted WNN’s broader mission, to humanize the whistleblower experience. “Behind every whistleblower is a human story,” she said. “Our work connects those stories to a global audience.”
As a seasoned whistleblower attorney and partner at Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, Wilmoth provided the group with a primer on U.S. whistleblower laws, including the False Claims Act, qui tam provisions, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Delegates showed particular interest in qui tam—a mechanism that allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the government and share in any financial recovery.
To illustrate the global impact of U.S. whistleblower laws, Wilmoth and Nguyen highlighted past FCPA cases involving Indonesian entities, which sparked a lively discussion among the visitors.
Ms. Wilmoth then introduced WNN’s Whistleblower of the Week podcast, which is a popular WNN program that shares the personal journeys of whistleblowers. “It’s a lifeline,” she noted, “a way to build community among whistleblowers who often feel isolated.”
The conversation also spotlighted Whistleblower of the Week host Jane Turner, a former FBI whistleblower. Turner spoke passionately about the power of media in whistleblower advocacy. “It gives them a voice, on their terms,” Turner said. “They deserve to be heard. Whistleblowers are essential to making their countries better.”
Turner stressed the importance of public exposure. “Retaliation in silence is devastating,” she said. “If my story hadn’t gone public, they would have destroyed me.”
Interns Anabelle Taylor, Alice Wanamaker, and Jacob Rusting also shared their experience writing for WNN. All three are currently interning at KKC and spoke about the challenge and value of translating complex legal topics into articles that are accessible to readers.
“Whistleblowing only works when the public understands what’s at stake, lawmakers listen to real-world stories, and whistleblowers know they’re not alone,” Wilmoth concluded.
The importance of global collaboration is highlighted through these types of exchanges. WNN is dedicated to sharing knowledge and building international partnerships that strengthen whistleblower protections.
WNN welcomes opportunities to collaborate, whether through article submissions or interviews for our Whistleblower of the Week podcast, as powerful ways to raise awareness and inspire change.
