There's a fundamental misunderstanding among Assange supporters.

[cab67]

Many, if not most, argue that the prosecution of Julian Assange was somehow an assault on freedom of the press, and that other journalists will be hampered in their work.

But there's a fundamental flaw in that line of reasoning. Julian Assange is not, in fact, a journalist.

Legal definitions of "journalist" or "reporter" are neither uniform nor uniformly clear, and court decisions are not always (to my not-a-lawyer untrained eyes) consistent, but there are nevertheless limits on who can apply a shield law for protection against lawsuits or prosecution. This is why reporters at most news conferences wear badges identifying them as such.

Assange doesn't qualify under any of them. He doesn't work for a news agency (print, broadcast, online), and his purpose was not merely to disseminate information, but to push a specific political agenda.

Like what he did? Fine, I suppose. But stop calling him a journalist. He's a hacker. There's a difference.