Curated OER
Anonymous Sources in the Media
When do people ask for anonymity? Why? After reading the New York Times article "For a Reporter and a Source, Echoes of Broken Promise," young readers participate in a roundtable discussion focusing on freedom of the press and the use of...
Columbia University
Leaks Necessary to News Reporting
Anonymous sources are a troubling fact of life for journalists and news consumers, according to this article that quotes some of the profession's heavy hitters.
PBS
Pbs: Interview With Geneva Overholser
This site is provided for by PBS. An interview with Geneva Overholser, former editor of The Des Moines Register, who led the paper to a Pulitzer Prize for public service. Frank discussion about the state of the profession, using...
CNN
Cnn: Newspaper Won't Identify Sources in Bombing
Remember Richard Jewell? He was the man accused of being the Olympic bomber by anonymous sources. Jewell was cleared and sued the paper for libel. Links to related stories allows viewers to follow Jewell's story.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: On Trial: Anonymous Sources (Lesson Plan)
A lesson in which learners investigate issues of journalistic ethics revolving around the reporting of leaked information, promises of confidentiality, and the public's right to know. Learners also conduct a mock trial, attempting to...
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez Project: Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, Inc. (1991)
This summary examines the impact of the 1991 US Supreme Court decision regarding the attribution of quotes to sources used in journalistic articles. Includes links to the full case, audio files, and how the justices voted on the case.