4 ms·

Julian's not a whistleblower, he's a journalist. Whistleblowers are people within the organization.

threeseed 2y ago
He's also not a journalist by traditional definitions i.e. no formal training, no accreditation, no redaction to protect innocent parties, no protection of sources. He's more akin to an activist.
- grecy 2y ago
  > He's also not a journalist by traditional definitions The year is 2024 and we've had the internet for a good while now. I think it's safe to say that "tradition definitions" are long, long dead and we need to get on with what the reality actually is. Who cares what "journalists" were defined as in 1980.
- caseyy 2y ago
  Hmm, this is the definition — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/journalist https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/journali... > a person who writes news stories or articles for a newspaper or magazine or broadcasts them on radio or television
  - threeseed 2y ago
    By your own definition this doesn't apply to Assange. Simply dumping files on a website doesn't make you a journalist and US courts agree.
  - Ylpertnodi 2y ago
    This is 'a' definition. Cambridge.org needs to wake up. The various yt auditors around - especially in the US - all class themselves as journalists.
    - blitzar 2y ago
      I am a trillionaire. Saying it doesnt make it true.
- colordrops 2y ago
  The law doesn't care about "traditional definitions". Anyone in the US can act as a journalist by simply publishing.
- throwawaythekey 2y ago
  Journalists consider Julian to be a journalist. > WikiLeaks wins top Australian journalism prize... The Walkley Award is one of a number of journalism prizes won by WikiLeaks in recent years, including Amnesty International’s UK Media Award and the acclaimed Martha Gellhorn Prize. The latter award is given to journalists who reveal “an unpalatable truth that exposes establishment propaganda.” These prizes undermine the Obama administration’s claims that Assange is not a journalist and that the publication of thousands of secret US diplomatic and military cables is illegal. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2011/11/assa-n30.html https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2011/11/assa-n30.html
FireBeyond 2y ago
And only sometimes. Other times he was a political campaigner. "Hey Don Jr, let's talk and coordinate the release of a bunch of DNC material when it can most benefit your dad's campaign. And don't worry, I'm sitting on the RNC material, it's safe."
- impossiblefork 2y ago
  What US journalist isn't? My impression that partisanship in reporting is incredibly strong.
  - FireBeyond 2y ago
    It absolutely is. But there are dozens or more comments here about how Assange and Wikileaks were "above all that", and "impartial sources, without fear or favor". When no, he was and is as partisan as anyone else.
    - impossiblefork 2y ago
      Yes, but he was still a journalist.

He's also not a journalist by traditional definitions i.e. no formal training, no accreditation, no redaction to protect innocent parties, no protection of sources. He's more akin to an activist.

grecy 2y ago
> He's also not a journalist by traditional definitions The year is 2024 and we've had the internet for a good while now. I think it's safe to say that "tradition definitions" are long, long dead and we need to get on with what the reality actually is. Who cares what "journalists" were defined as in 1980.
caseyy 2y ago
Hmm, this is the definition — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/journalist https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/journali... > a person who writes news stories or articles for a newspaper or magazine or broadcasts them on radio or television
- threeseed 2y ago
  By your own definition this doesn't apply to Assange. Simply dumping files on a website doesn't make you a journalist and US courts agree.
- Ylpertnodi 2y ago
  This is 'a' definition. Cambridge.org needs to wake up. The various yt auditors around - especially in the US - all class themselves as journalists.
  - blitzar 2y ago
    I am a trillionaire. Saying it doesnt make it true.
colordrops 2y ago
The law doesn't care about "traditional definitions". Anyone in the US can act as a journalist by simply publishing.
throwawaythekey 2y ago
Journalists consider Julian to be a journalist. > WikiLeaks wins top Australian journalism prize... The Walkley Award is one of a number of journalism prizes won by WikiLeaks in recent years, including Amnesty International’s UK Media Award and the acclaimed Martha Gellhorn Prize. The latter award is given to journalists who reveal “an unpalatable truth that exposes establishment propaganda.” These prizes undermine the Obama administration’s claims that Assange is not a journalist and that the publication of thousands of secret US diplomatic and military cables is illegal. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2011/11/assa-n30.html https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2011/11/assa-n30.html

FireBeyond 2y ago

And only sometimes. Other times he was a political campaigner. "Hey Don Jr, let's talk and coordinate the release of a bunch of DNC material when it can most benefit your dad's campaign. And don't worry, I'm sitting on the RNC material, it's safe."

impossiblefork 2y ago
What US journalist isn't? My impression that partisanship in reporting is incredibly strong.
- FireBeyond 2y ago
  It absolutely is. But there are dozens or more comments here about how Assange and Wikileaks were "above all that", and "impartial sources, without fear or favor". When no, he was and is as partisan as anyone else.
  - impossiblefork 2y ago
    Yes, but he was still a journalist.