I know it misses the point: but Noam Chomsky didn't get his professorship by being a social critic, I think it's more of a hobby for him. I believe MIT thinks him worthy of tenure due to his expertise and innovation in the field of linguistics...
That is fine but our society does not appear to recognize 'social critic' as a formal job. I'm not sure that says anything positive about society and the power of credentialism. He could leave the university but in some way he kind of can't either.
I think Julian Assange had a similar problem only more dire. He must be called journalist or he loses a protective mantle even though he has long become more important than a mere journalist. Maybe one day we'll recognize 'leaker' as a formal title and a Wikileaks as an institution.