Media

Is it acceptable for media to use anonymous sources?

For

It protects whistleblowers and reveals hidden truths.

Against

It makes it harder to verify the credibility of information.

Anonymous excerpts, translated where noted.

For

  • It's only anonymous to the public because the whistleblower will only speak under that condition.
    RedditOriginal language: English
  • The journalists reporting the story do know who these people are and have vetted them and the information they provided.
    RedditOriginal language: English

Against

  • It’s difficult for you the reader or listener to judge a source’s credibility if you don’t know anything about them.
    RedditOriginal language: English
  • Sometimes a source is a genuine whistleblower, other times its a government body wanting to say something without actually saying it.
    RedditOriginal language: English
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