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Naming someone who wishes to remain anonymous is known as “burning a source” and most likely will cost them the source’s trust and future access to them.

NEWS ANCHOR CARTOON BACKGROUND FULL

Reporters are either left performing mental gymnastics to write the story without naming the source or publishing the story with full attribution because they never agreed to a one-sided conversation in the first place. For example, the subject may email the reporter a juicy statement detailing exactly what they wanted to know and say it’s only for background or deep background. Subjects like Scaramucci may try to unilaterally impose the rule without an agreement from the reporter-and cry breach of trust when they don’t get their way. Scaramucci was ousted from his role four days later. He believed he had anonymity without actually establishing it ahead of time, but that’s not how it works, as reporter Mary Beth Schneider points out in her tweet. Just a week into his role as White House Director of Communications, Anthony Scaramucci criticized members of the Trump Administration in a phone interview with The New Yorker. But it’s become commonplace for even sources in positions of power or esteem to push for these interviews to avoid any accountability at all. Traditionally, background interviews exist to protect vulnerable interview subjects. Thus, a reporter should independently verify the information, through another interview or court document, and attribute it on the record. But on-the-record sourcing always carries more weight. The source should be credible and directly knowledgeable about the subject. Ultimately, any information attributed to an anonymous source should be factual and vital to the story. officials said that they had no evidence President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine or his top lieutenants were involved in the operation, or that the perpetrators were acting at the direction of any Ukrainian government officials.” New York Times, March 7, 2023 officials “all spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss classified intelligence and matters of sensitive diplomacy.” In the spirit of transparency, the reporters explain in the story that those U.S. officials have reviewed some new intelligence about an attack on the Nord Stream pipeline last year and now believe it was carried out by pro-Ukrainian group not affiliated with the Zelensky government. For example, you might see a quote or facts in an article attributed to “a high-ranking official in the Chancellor’s office.”ĭeep background means the information can be published without attribution, and the source doesn’t want to be identified in any way.įor example, the New York Times reported on March 7 that U.S. The Associated Press defines background as “information can be published but only under conditions negotiated with the source.” In this instance, sources don’t want their names published but may agree to a generalized description of their role. But the definitions can be murky, and journalists should explain what these terms mean before the interview to avoid confusion. The reason may be fear of a potential job loss or harassment if their name were published. But some subjects, particularly those in positions of power, have used this type of attribution to their advantage.Įither a reporter or a source may suggest conducting an interview on background or deep background when a source wants to share pertinent information with the reporter and prefers to remain anonymous. The terms are part of a journalist’s reporting arsenal and should only be used when necessary. Sometimes sources or experts will only speak with a journalist if the conversation is considered on background or deep background. Telling a story of public interest requires transparency on who provided the information and how the reporter acquired it. Ethical journalists act with integrity, seek the truth, and report on it.

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