Is Assange a journalist? It depends in which year you ask

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As Julian Assange awaits his extradition hearing in Britain, the debate over what to call him and his organisation, WikiLeaks, is once again important.

Depending on who is speaking, Assange is either a publisher, a hacker or the head of a hostile intelligence service. It can all be a bit confusing. The debate, though, is vitally important.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 19, 2019, with the headline Is Assange a journalist? It depends in which year you ask. Subscribe