A good rule to live by is to avoid using unidentified sources whenever possible, and avoid quoting an anonymous source (that is known as a “blind quote.”) In recent years, The New York Times, to name one media outlet, has come under fire for reporting stories largely based on anonymous government sources promulgating a particular point of view, and this practice undermined the Times’ goal of covering news impartially—“without fear or favor,” in the words of its patriarch, Adolph Ochs. For instance, the paper's coverage of Los Alamos researcher Wen Ho Lee, who Clinton Administration officials in the late 1990s pegged as a spy by using the cover of anonymity to leak their suspicions to Times reporters; and its coverage of Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction leading up to the Iraq War. Both seriously tainted the paper's reputation.

There are times, however, when the only way to get a story is to offer a source anonymity; such offers should be a last resort after repeated attempts to go on the record have failed and the student has received permission from her editor or instructor. Some notable examples: a source admits to committing a crime, and publishing his name could land him in prison; a source begs anonymity because public exposure could embarrass the source or jeopardize the source's job; an illegal immigrant is afraid to speak out for fear of being deported. In these cases, the reporter should consult with her editors while a student should ask her professor.

If an anonymous source must be used, offer as much detail as possible about who the source is and explain why anonymity was awarded. The New York Times has a similar policy. You might identify a source, for example, as “a police detective close to the investigation who requested anonymity because her superiors had ordered her not to speak publicly.”

Nevertheless, the use of anonymous sources is so ingrained in our profession that The New York Times still sometimes fails to live up to its own standards. The New York Times Public Editor, Margaret Sullivan, published several critical columns on the Times’ over reliance on anonymous sources and started “AnonyWatch,” where she would “point out some of the more regrettable examples of anonymous quotations in The Times.”

Meanwhile, a Twitter bot, “NYT Anonymous” (@NYTanon), automatically retweets instances of anonymous sources used in the Times.

A smattering of examples:

“‘Our cooperation has reached an unprecedented level,’ wrote a European Union spokesperson, who declined to be named, via email.” (New York Times, Aug. 22, 2018)

“Mr. Cohn was invited to Mr. Mnuchin’s recent wedding to the actress Louise Linton, said a person who was aware of the invitation, although he did not attend.” (New York Times, Aug. 28, 2017)

“... according to people privy to conversations on the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.” (New York Times, Feb. 18, 2016)

“The United States official who described the missile batteries, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters…” (New York Times, Feb. 17, 2016)

“He spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly assess Mr. Walker, with whom he has a good relationship.” (New York Times, Jul. 12, 2015)

“... the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the plan with a reporter.” (New York Times, Jul. 13, 2015)

“The people would speak only on the condition of anonymity because discussions were private.” ( New York Times, July 12, 2015

“Mr. Jarry, a 48-year-old filmmaker, musician, and academic, agreed to speak on the condition that I not use his real name.” (New York Times, July 10, 2015)

Ask yourself: are these anonymous sources necessary? Is the reason given for anonymity sufficient?

Let’s recap some of these rationales:

“... wrote a European Union spokesperson, who declined to be named.” A spokesperson who speaks on behalf of the EU but cannot be named as speaking on behalf of the organization?

“… who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record”? So they weren’t supposed to talk but talked anyway?

“… speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters…” What does that even mean?

“He spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly assess Mr. Walker, with whom he has a good relationship.” Because has a good relationship with the guy he requires anonymity to discuss him?

“... the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the plan with a reporter.” You don’t say.

“The people would speak only on the condition of anonymity because discussions were private.” Huh?

Perhaps the oddest attribution in a New York Times story about a bathroom beautification project in the Port Authority bus terminal:

“A second person who checked out the women’s restroom—and who asked not to be identified because she has always wanted to be an anonymous source—reported her findings by email: ‘Black shiny granite-y sink. Arched faucets by Sloan. Tasteful slate gray and powder gray tiles.’” (New York Times, Feb. 25, 2015)

Margaret Sullivan, the Times public editor, wrote that she was “inclined to laugh” about the source, which was probably meant as a sendup of the “whole matter of how freely anonymity is granted.” New York Times standards editor Philip Corbett agreed, calling it “a bit of self-aware humor.”

Except in rare instances, a reporter should not publish an anonymous quote or statement from a source that is critical of another person. Generally speaking, if someone is unwilling to put his name to a critical statement about another person, the reporter shouldn't use it. In all cases, if a reporter grants anonymity to a source, the reporter must be sure to have that source's real name and contact info. Be aware that the policy of most respectable publications is for the editors to know the identity of a reporter’s anonymous source.

Review

• Avoid offering anonymity to a source
• No blind quotes
• Never allow an anonymous source to criticise
• Get permission from your editor or instructor before using any anonymous source