http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-940131.mp3
Macomb, IL – The panelists discuss whether Wikileaks leader Julian Assange should be considered a journalist.
They generally agree Assange should not be viewed as a reporter. While the information he is making public might be important, he's not doing any reporting - he's simply posting documents to the web.
The panelists feel reporters write stories, provide some context, and focus on the most essential portions of such documents.
In addition, Assange seems to be acting as an activist with an agenda rather than a journalist trying to shed light on an issue.
The panelists also point out that Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, never claimed to be a journalist.
That said, the panelists acknowledge it's difficult to come up with an exact definition for a journalist. There is no license or degree required for someone to be considered a journalist.