The challenges of anonymous source stories: A case study of Solomon Islands daily newspapers
Keywords:
accountability, anonymous sources, content analysis, ethics, Island Sun, newspapers, Solomon Islands, Solomon Star
Abstract
This article examines the use of anonymous sources in Solomon Star and Island Sun daily newspapers in Solomon Islands. It is aimed to explore why the two newspapers use anonymous sources in the news stories they publish. The two national newspapers face many challenges in maintaining a strong sense of ethics and accountability as most reporters are not qualified, and they compete in a small advertising market to generate revenue. Consequently, they also face challenges from politicians and other public figures over publishing anonymous sources in their papers. The challenges range from threats, intimidation, compensation demands to court battles. This study includes a content analysis of the daily papers and interviews with the editors of both papers and individuals who are affected by the issue.
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References
Anti-Corruption Network Solomon Islands (2013, August 11). ANSI calls for freedom of information. Island Sun, pp. 12-15.
Christie, J. (2014, April 23). Anonymous sources: leaving journalism's false god behind, Maine center for public interest reporting. Retrieved from www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/249037/anonymous-sources-leaving-journalisms-false-god-behind/
Dotinga, R. (2004, August 12). Unnamed sources: Essential or overused? Christian Science Monitor, p. 3. Retrieved from www.csmonitor.com/2004/ 0812/ p03s01-usju.html
Farhi, P. (2013, December 15). Anonymous sources are increasing in news stories, along with rather curious explanations. Washington Post. Retrieved from www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/anonymous-sources-are-increasing-in-news-stories-along-with-rather-curious-explanations/2013/12/15/5049a11e-61ec-11e3-94ad-004fefa61ee6_story.html
Foreman, G. (1984). Confidential sources: Testing the reader’s confidence. Nieman Reports, 38(2), 20–23.
Freeman, M. J. (2011). Unnamed sources: A utilitarian exploration of their justification and guidelines for limited use. Journal of Mass Media Ethics: Exploring Questions of Media Morality, 26(4), 297-315, DOI: 10.1080/08900523.2011.606006
Gassaway, B. (1988). Are secret sources in the news media really necessary? Newspaper Research Journal, 9, 69–77.
JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission (2011a). Use anonymous sources with care. Retrieved from www.jeasprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/SPRC-Foundation6-anon.pdf
JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission (2011b). Plagiarism and priority authorship. Retrieved from http://jeasprc.org/tag/anonymous-sources/page/2/
Kurtz, H. (2010, June 15). Don’t use my name: The anonymity game. Washington Post. Retrieved from www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/ AR2010061501315.html
Moore, C. (June 2013). Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978. School of History, Philosophy, Religious and Classics.
Methven, B. E. (12-08-2015). First amendment standards for subsequent punishment of dissemination of confidential government information. California Law Review, Inc.
Reader, B. (2005). An ethical ‘blind spot’: Problems of anonymous letters to the editor, Journal of Mass Media Ethics: Exploring Questions of Media Morality, 20(1), 62-76. DOI: 10.1207/s15327728, mme 2001-5.
Sager, K. L. & Wilcox, R. J. (2007). Protecting confidential sources. Litigation 33(2), 36-41.
Smith, R. (2003). Groping for ethics in journalism (5th Ed.). Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press.
Sternadori, M. M., & Thorson, E. (2009). Anonymous sources harm credibility of all stories. Newspaper Research Journal, 30(4), 54–66.
Sullivan, M. (2013, October 12). The disconnect on anonymous sources. New Yprk Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/sunday/the-public-editor-the-disconnect-on-anonymous-sources.html?_r=0
Ta’asi, E. (2013, August 19). ANSI calls for freedom of information. Island Sun. Retrieved from www.islandsun.com.sb/index.php/latest-news/honiara/6030-ansi-calls-for-freedom-of-information
Thorson, M. M. (2009). Anonymous sources harm credibility of all stories. Newspaper Research Journal, 30(4).
Wasserman, E. (2014). A critique of source confidentially. Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, 19.
Christie, J. (2014, April 23). Anonymous sources: leaving journalism's false god behind, Maine center for public interest reporting. Retrieved from www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/249037/anonymous-sources-leaving-journalisms-false-god-behind/
Dotinga, R. (2004, August 12). Unnamed sources: Essential or overused? Christian Science Monitor, p. 3. Retrieved from www.csmonitor.com/2004/ 0812/ p03s01-usju.html
Farhi, P. (2013, December 15). Anonymous sources are increasing in news stories, along with rather curious explanations. Washington Post. Retrieved from www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/anonymous-sources-are-increasing-in-news-stories-along-with-rather-curious-explanations/2013/12/15/5049a11e-61ec-11e3-94ad-004fefa61ee6_story.html
Foreman, G. (1984). Confidential sources: Testing the reader’s confidence. Nieman Reports, 38(2), 20–23.
Freeman, M. J. (2011). Unnamed sources: A utilitarian exploration of their justification and guidelines for limited use. Journal of Mass Media Ethics: Exploring Questions of Media Morality, 26(4), 297-315, DOI: 10.1080/08900523.2011.606006
Gassaway, B. (1988). Are secret sources in the news media really necessary? Newspaper Research Journal, 9, 69–77.
JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission (2011a). Use anonymous sources with care. Retrieved from www.jeasprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/SPRC-Foundation6-anon.pdf
JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission (2011b). Plagiarism and priority authorship. Retrieved from http://jeasprc.org/tag/anonymous-sources/page/2/
Kurtz, H. (2010, June 15). Don’t use my name: The anonymity game. Washington Post. Retrieved from www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/ AR2010061501315.html
Moore, C. (June 2013). Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978. School of History, Philosophy, Religious and Classics.
Methven, B. E. (12-08-2015). First amendment standards for subsequent punishment of dissemination of confidential government information. California Law Review, Inc.
Reader, B. (2005). An ethical ‘blind spot’: Problems of anonymous letters to the editor, Journal of Mass Media Ethics: Exploring Questions of Media Morality, 20(1), 62-76. DOI: 10.1207/s15327728, mme 2001-5.
Sager, K. L. & Wilcox, R. J. (2007). Protecting confidential sources. Litigation 33(2), 36-41.
Smith, R. (2003). Groping for ethics in journalism (5th Ed.). Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press.
Sternadori, M. M., & Thorson, E. (2009). Anonymous sources harm credibility of all stories. Newspaper Research Journal, 30(4), 54–66.
Sullivan, M. (2013, October 12). The disconnect on anonymous sources. New Yprk Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/sunday/the-public-editor-the-disconnect-on-anonymous-sources.html?_r=0
Ta’asi, E. (2013, August 19). ANSI calls for freedom of information. Island Sun. Retrieved from www.islandsun.com.sb/index.php/latest-news/honiara/6030-ansi-calls-for-freedom-of-information
Thorson, M. M. (2009). Anonymous sources harm credibility of all stories. Newspaper Research Journal, 30(4).
Wasserman, E. (2014). A critique of source confidentially. Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, 19.
Published
17-10-2017
How to Cite
Osifelo, E. T. (2017). The challenges of anonymous source stories: A case study of Solomon Islands daily newspapers. Pacific Journalism Review : Te Koakoa, 23(2), 51-65. https://doi.org/10.24135/pjr.v23i2.48
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2017 Eddie T. Osifelo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
