Scribd
Upload
101 views6 pages

Attribution and Sources of News

Attribution and sources of news can be on the record, off the record, or anonymous. Citing sources lends credibility to reporting and allows readers to access information on their own. Attribution is best placed so it does not complicate the sentence but may be necessary in the lead. Anonymous sources are used if identifying the source could embarrass or endanger them, using descriptors like "a source who requested anonymity." Information is on the record if the source can be identified. Off the record means the information is shared confidentially without naming the source, but anonymous sources impact credibility and should only be a last resort.

Uploaded by

Anireeth C Raj
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
101 views6 pages

Attribution and Sources of News

Attribution and sources of news can be on the record, off the record, or anonymous. Citing sources lends credibility to reporting and allows readers to access information on their own. Attribution is best placed so it does not complicate the sentence but may be necessary in the lead. Anonymous sources are used if identifying the source could embarrass or endanger them, using descriptors like "a source who requested anonymity." Information is on the record if the source can be identified. Off the record means the information is shared confidentially without naming the source, but anonymous sources impact credibility and should only be a last resort.

Uploaded by

Anireeth C Raj
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Attribution and sources of news

Anonymous sources, on the record, and off the record

Editing paper

Attribution
Citing the source of information is called attribution Preferable to cite sources of information as it lends credibility to news report Also, the reader/ viewer knows that the journalist got the information from somewhere and is not offering her/ his own comments on the news item. Readers/ viewers can access information on their own, based on journalists reports. Adds to to credibility of the journalist/ news organisation
Editing paper

Attribution
Where do you place the attribution? Depends on the kind of information, the importance of the information, and whether or not the sentence reads easily if atttribution is used in the same sentence. (some times the info journalist is trying to convey would be complicated if attribution is also given in same sentence; so attribution could follow in the next sentence Sometimes necessary to attribute info in the lead itself
Editing paper

Confidentiality
Source may request anonymity if she/ he would be embarrassed (govt officials leaking info to journalists) if identified as the source; or if source/ journalist could be in danger if the source is identified (whistleblower exposing scam) If source requests anonymity then the following attribution can be used: 1. a source who requested anonymity 2. a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity 3. a reliable source 4. an official who spoke off the record 5. sources in the police/ govt dept who spoke on condition of anonymity
Editing paper

On the record
When information can be used And source of information can also be identified

Editing paper

Off the record


When something is said in confidence to a journalist Journalist could get permission to use the info without naming the source However, anonymous sources used be as a last resort as credibility of journalist and news organisation is at stake Confidentiality can be withdrawn if the source has deliberately mislead the organisation: but journalist looks foolish anyway
Editing paper

You might also like