When, why & howto use unnamed sources

Steve ButtryJune 18, 2016

Investigative Reporters & Editors

Links and slides• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.org/stevebuttryContact info:stephenbuttry@gmail.com@stevebuttry

Anonymous sources

If source is truly anonymous …• Ask why• Ask how you can verify• Ask who else knows• Ask if source has documentation • Don’t use anything from the source

without verifying• Source is just a tipster

If you know source …Good reasons:• Fears for safety• Fears for job• Violating the law• Victim of crime• Not sure of facts

(again, just a tipster)

Bad reasons:• Gutless• Unaccountable• Smearing character• Carrying water• Feeding you BS

Factors to consider• Is source powerful? (More powerful than

subjects of your story?)• Is source eager (did source come to you,

or did you approach source)?• What does source have at stake?• Does source have motive to lie or give

you only part of the truth?

Factors to consider• Could the source be playing you

(especially if the source is powerful or eager to talk to you)?

• What part(s) of the story does the source know?

• What part(s) of the story does the source not know?

Opposite situations• Powerful source approaches you with

“tip,” doesn’t want to be named. (You’re being played.)

• You’re seeking sources. No one wants to talk about this story. (Confidentiality is only way to start a conversation and get any information.)

If source is eager …• Consider whether you should talk to

source at all• If you talk, push source to provide

documentation• Ask source who might talk on the record• Consider how the source might be

playing you

If source is eager …If you decide to talk to the source, be clear that you probably won’t use what he or she says.

Who should be on record?• Spokespeople• Powerful executives (off-the-record

“briefings” are an effort to play you)• People expressing opinions

If source is reluctant …• Learn why source won’t talk for the

record• Push source to provide documentation• Ask who might talk on the record• Use confidentiality to get conversation

started, see if you can persuade later to go on the record

Verifying info• Can source provide emails, documents to

quote from or refer to?• Can source steer you to on-record

source?• If the info is true, where can you find

corroboration?• Who else would know?

Verifying info• Ask internally what does it take to make

this story ready to publish?• How do we find that information?

Can you protect source?• Should you (and source) encrypt emails,

use private accounts & computers?• Should you (and source) use burner

phones?• Should you meet source privately?

(Where would you be safe?)• Don’t make promises you can’t keep

Links and slides• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.org/stevebuttryContact info:stephenbuttry@gmail.com@stevebuttry