Where's the dividing line?

The following blurb formed the lead-in to a CNET News article entitled 'Feds hint at charges for WikiLeaks' Assange':

The U.S. government indicated today that WikiLeaks spokesman Julian Assange could be in legal jeopardy for disclosing classified information because he is "not a journalist."

When asked whether "traditional media" organizations that republish secret documents could be prosecuted, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said that the administration applauds "the role of journalists in your daily pursuits."

"In our view, Mr. Assange is not a journalist," Crowley added.

Can one really coherently define a distinction between a "journalist" and someone who is "not a journalist"? Is the distinction basically on the basis of employer - which might then be dubbed a corporatocracy or something similar?