There's a fundamental misunderstanding among Assange supporters.

[cab67]

12. I think you misread some of what I wrote.

I never said a badge or a degree were needed to be considered a journalist. I merely pointed out that, from a legal point of view, not everyone who releases written content is entitled to the protections given to journalists. Having a badge or whatnot is certainly good evidence that one is a proper journalist, but it isn't necessary.

As for your examples - standards change. Surgeons didn't always need an MD, and in some time periods, they were as likely as not to have been trained as barbers. Professors didn't always need terminal degrees. Peer review wasn't a thing until well into the 20th century. Some of the greatest jurists in history would not currently be allowed to practice law in the US, because the standards needed to do so didn't exist back then. Benjamin Franklin would probably be considered a journalist now because he published a newspaper, but Gutenberg would not; he published material that was already widely available in manuscript format.

(And welcome to DU!)