Comments on: Abuse of anonymous sources still bane of big-time journalism

By: Scholars and Rogues » Another foul nest of anonymice in a Times story

Scholars and Rogues » Another foul nest of anonymice in a Times story — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:14:03 +0000

[...] only one — that’s one — named source. He expects his readers to swallow a steady diet of anonymice. Worse, Sanger provides no reason for withholding their names. That’s a disservice to [...]

By: Dr. Denny

Dr. Denny — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:40:59 +0000

Jon: You paint with too broad a brush, perhaps. Please define the terms you use: “useful” and “traditional media.”

By: Dr. Slammy

Dr. Slammy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:38:15 +0000

Yeah, the Dana Priest rules certainly get to the heart of it, don’t they?

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:49:22 +0000

‘Anonymice’ are the only sources cited in most articles. I’ve personally noted that they cluster around the ‘cheese’ of national security issues like, Iran nuclear, Iraq WMD, anything Palestinian….it goes on. I view these as advertising of someone’s hidden agenda whenever I see them now. It’s like a red flag in an article. Never has it been more obvious that media in general are in the business of conditioning public thinking to specific themes. The only light in that dark world is the internet. The free exchange of ideas and information allowed by this miraculous invention allows us to sidestep all of these mendacious lies. Sure, the internet is full of its share of baloney as well, but there are still a great number of useful posts nonetheless. There is nothing useful in traditional media.

By: Lex

Lex — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:41:57 +0000

I wonder how often the anonymous source is a figment of someone’s imagination?

By: Russ Wellen

Russ Wellen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:29:39 +0000

I like the Dana Priest rules. Meanwhile, a third reason for over-use of anonymous sources is competition. They really spice up a story. Without them, it can seem flat, especially in comparison with those of other writers.

By: Beth Lyles

Beth Lyles — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:32:53 +0000

Anyone who’s searching for truth, real significance or the unspun realities of our troubled times should not be looking for it in the WaPo or the Times. Wise up to these reactionary propaganda organs.