There's a fundamental misunderstanding among Assange supporters.

[socratesagain]

10. "I don't have to show you no stinkin' badges..."

Respectfully disagree, mate. Gutenberg needed no badge, nor did Ben Franklin, nor Tom Paine, for the matter. The university of democracy & life experience taught them critical thinking skills and the right to question any and all authority. Their consciences compelled them to report their findings.
Journalism school merely confers a diploma. A job at a news institution issues a paycheck for asking questions and reporting the answers. And a "badge" to make it look official, as in "a member of the club." Please don't get conned by the institutional party line and signifier-invocation used as convenient covers to imprison this courageous reporter.
Here's the reason the MSM fell into disrepute decades ago: because first, last and always these media remain spokesmen, frontmen and apologists for corporate America. Their job is to rake in profits. If the facts offend their advertisers and shareholders, the facts don't. get. aired. Period. Call these clowns anything but journalists and/reporters. It's a bit late in the day for that.
Be well.