4 ms·

Assange might be a number of things, but he’s not a journalist.

quotz 7y ago
Your definition of journalism is a bit distorted given the current journalism environment as an example. The current scene is that all journalists have editors who comply with their editors and the editor's backers (institutions or private organizations, CEOs, Managers, Lobbyists, Political Parties, financiers). These editors are playing the politics game, not the journalist game. Initially Wikileaks was actually mediating whisteblowers and big publishers, but big news organizations werent publishing what they were sending them because it didnt work with their narrative. The military docs that Wikileaks published were first sent to New York Times, however, NYT didnt want to publish the files at all, they werent even excited by them.
- 52-6F-62 7y ago
  My definition is not distorted. I’m abiding by the standard. If you want to redefine what makes a journalist, then we have to have another discussion. Edited: Sorry. Also have a serious problem with the accusation that editors on whole are compromised. They’re some of the most hard-nosed people I know—To a fault—And to my professional annoyance...
Fnoord 7y ago
Everyone is a journalist nowadays because everyone has social media, a blog, a photo camera, and other means to release content made through observation(s). However, there's a distinction between journalist and professional journalist. He worked with professional journalists at various points in his life, that's for sure.
pseingatl 7y ago
Based on whose definition? Is a journalism degree a requirement? If you define it solely in economic terms, then a part-time stringer for Reuters isn't a journalist because, after all, they're not "professional" journalists. Wasn't this the argument made in Myanmar when it incarcerated the two Reuters 'journalists'? Freelance journalists are not journalists? Or do you want to go down the path of having government license journalists? Then there's no doubt. Some countries do this already. The writers who contributed to Ariana Huffington's blog but didn't share in the payday when she sold it? Were they journalists? The DoJ reached the conclusion that there was no principled distinction between the NYTimes and Wikileaks. Trump's DoJ reached a different conclusion. The UK has already recognized Assange as a journalist. He may be a new media journalist, he may be a crusading journalist, he may be an unpopular journalist, but he is a journalist by any reasonable definition: he gathers news and publishes it.
- 52-6F-62 7y ago
  Based on his professional behaviour he’s as much a journalist as the writers for the National Enquirer. That is, he has a penchant for selectively burying information when it suits him.

Your definition of journalism is a bit distorted given the current journalism environment as an example. The current scene is that all journalists have editors who comply with their editors and the editor's backers (institutions or private organizations, CEOs, Managers, Lobbyists, Political Parties, financiers). These editors are playing the politics game, not the journalist game. Initially Wikileaks was actually mediating whisteblowers and big publishers, but big news organizations werent publishing what they were sending them because it didnt work with their narrative. The military docs that Wikileaks published were first sent to New York Times, however, NYT didnt want to publish the files at all, they werent even excited by them.

52-6F-62 7y ago
My definition is not distorted. I’m abiding by the standard. If you want to redefine what makes a journalist, then we have to have another discussion. Edited: Sorry. Also have a serious problem with the accusation that editors on whole are compromised. They’re some of the most hard-nosed people I know—To a fault—And to my professional annoyance...

Fnoord 7y ago

Everyone is a journalist nowadays because everyone has social media, a blog, a photo camera, and other means to release content made through observation(s). However, there's a distinction between journalist and professional journalist. He worked with professional journalists at various points in his life, that's for sure.

pseingatl 7y ago

Based on whose definition? Is a journalism degree a requirement? If you define it solely in economic terms, then a part-time stringer for Reuters isn't a journalist because, after all, they're not "professional" journalists. Wasn't this the argument made in Myanmar when it incarcerated the two Reuters 'journalists'? Freelance journalists are not journalists? Or do you want to go down the path of having government license journalists? Then there's no doubt. Some countries do this already. The writers who contributed to Ariana Huffington's blog but didn't share in the payday when she sold it? Were they journalists? The DoJ reached the conclusion that there was no principled distinction between the NYTimes and Wikileaks. Trump's DoJ reached a different conclusion. The UK has already recognized Assange as a journalist. He may be a new media journalist, he may be a crusading journalist, he may be an unpopular journalist, but he is a journalist by any reasonable definition: he gathers news and publishes it.

52-6F-62 7y ago
Based on his professional behaviour he’s as much a journalist as the writers for the National Enquirer. That is, he has a penchant for selectively burying information when it suits him.