Tips for Aspiring Journalists Regarding the Handling of Sources

Based in Monaca, Pennsylvania, James Vendemia is an experienced public school administrator who recently served as a K-12 principal and high school teacher evaluator at The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. Prior to this, James Vendemia taught English and journalism with the Central Valley School District.

Establishing trusted sources, whether on the record or anonymous, is a central component to journalism. Regarding anonymous sources, it's particularly important for journalists to protect their identity and practice good ethics throughout the duration of the relationship. Many jurisdictions have legal protections in place to protect the identity - and safety - of whistleblowers and other confidential sources, and it is the journalist's responsibility to protect the source's anonymity. Ethical journalists should also inform confidential sources of the risks they are taking and provide safe ways in which they can make contact.

In recognizing these risks, the journalist should also determine which threats are the most pressing and outline steps both parties can take for protection. Digital exposure via hacking or other methods is one prevalent risk that can be avoided by face-to-face contact.

Journalists should also avoid getting too close to their sources. This can undermine ethics and allow the journalist to accept inaccurate information without proper vetting. To that end, it's important to remember that some anonymous sources may be promoting a specific agenda.