T. Becket Adams of the Washington Examiner quoted me in a good story about using unnamed sources.
While the story focused on the New York Times, Adams did not specifically mention my encouragement that Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet should get angry about his newsroom’s excessive use on unnamed sources.
If you’re interested in the issue, I encourage you to read the Adams piece, which includes quotes as well from former Times Editor Bill Keller, Washington Post media bogger Erik Wemple (a former TBD colleague), Huffington Post media blogger Jason Linkins, Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan and Jack Shafer (who is joining Politico). I’m pleased to be included in such company, and recommend the story for a thoughtful overview of issues relating to unnamed sources.
Hi Steve, Very happy to read your encouragement of improved sourcing from the NYT! Did you see iMediaEthics report on the heavy reliance on anonymous sources in its reporting from Cairo? Here is link:
“NY Times Never Called Me! Anonymous Sources…Rule in Egypt”
http://www.imediaethics.org/News/4951/Ny_times_never_called_me__anonymous_sources__fact_check_failures_rule_in_egypt__analysis_reveals.php
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