{"id":486141,"date":"2018-05-10T16:58:55","date_gmt":"2018-05-10T21:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/\/?page_id=486141"},"modified":"2023-05-25T11:48:20","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T16:48:20","slug":"unnamed-sources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/about\/unnamed-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"Guidelines on Use of Unnamed Sources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Adopted May 8, 2018, by <\/b>Wisconsin Watch<\/strong> Board of Directors<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisconsin Watch\u2019s newsroom guidelines on use of unnamed sources are based on the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics<\/a>, approved in 1996, and adopted in full in 2009; and guidelines publicly shared by The New York Times in July 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisconsin Watch\u2019s guidelines on use of unnamed sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources\u2019 reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Always question sources\u2019 motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Any use of anonymous sourcing must be specifically approved by a top editor such as the managing editor or executive director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Direct quotes from anonymous sources should be used rarely, and only when such quotes are pivotal to the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 At least one editor must know the specific identity of any anonymous source. This in no way reflects a lack of trust between editor and reporter; it\u2019s just a regular part of our diligence in this sensitive area. The reporter should routinely offer this information, or the story editor should ask.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adopted May 8, 2018, by Wisconsin Watch Board of Directors Wisconsin Watch\u2019s newsroom guidelines on use of unnamed sources are based on the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, approved in 1996, and adopted in full in 2009; and guidelines publicly shared by The New York Times in July 2016. Wisconsin Watch\u2019s guidelines on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"gigafact_has_fact_brief":false,"gigafact_remote_fact_brief_post_id":0,"gigafact_remote_sync_timestamp":"","gigafact_remote_sync_status":"","gigafact_remote_sync_response":"","gigafact_has_been_published":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":false,"newspack_show_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[1745],"class_list":["post-486141","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"fact_brief":null,"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/about\/unnamed-sources\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Guidelines on Use of Unnamed Sources","url":"http:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/about\/unnamed-sources\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/about\/unnamed-sources\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"News & Announcements","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Wisconsin Watch"}],"creator":["Wisconsin Watch"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wisconsin Watch","logo":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ww-logo-footer-1.png"},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2018-05-10T21:58:55Z","datePublished":"2018-05-10T21:58:55Z","dateModified":"2023-05-25T16:48:20Z"},"rendered":"