The Odd Rise of Anonymous Sources

Monday, 16 December 2013 | by Pat's Picks

The Washington Post’s Paul Farhi goes on the record about the increasing number of anonymous sources being used in newspaper stories. In an attempt to become more transparent, reporters quoting an anonymous source often include the source’s reason for remaining off the record. But those reasons have become more and more ridiculous, like the union source who “did not want to offend other unions,” and the many sources who remain anonymous “because of the sensitivity” of not-so-sensitive situations. Experts on the topic say journalists should work harder to convince their sources to go on the record, or try to find sources willing to put their names next to the same information.