Anonymous Sources: A Utilitarian Exploration of Their Justification and Guidelines for Limited Use

Authors

Matt J. DuffyFollow
Carrie Packwood Freeman, Georgia State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

This article critically examines the practice of unnamed sourcing in journalism. A literature review highlights arguments in favor of and against their use. Then, the authors examine some common examples of anonymous sourcing using the lens of utilitarianism, the ethical model commonly used to justify the practice. We find that few uses of unnamed sourcing can be justified when weighed against diminished credibility and threats to fair, transparent reporting. The authors then suggest specific guidelines for journalists that, if followed, would curb many of the pedestrian uses of unnamed sourcing but still allow for the practice in specific circumstances.

Comments

This is an electronic version of an article published in The Journal of Mass Media Ethics Vol. 26 Iss. 4, 2011, pp. 297-315. The Journal of Mass Media Ethics is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=0890-0523&volume=26&issue=4&spage=297.

The preprint, or the author's version before peer-review, is available below in "Additional Files."

Recommended Citation

Duffy, M. J., & Freeman, C. P. (2011). Anonymous sources: A utilitarian exploration of their justification and guidelines for limited use. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 26(4), 297-315.