Press Watchdogs Hail Effort to Justify Use of Anonymous Sources
After more than two years of deliberations, a National Association of Newspaper Editors task force released over the weekend a lengthy list of “approved attributions” for use in news stories where a source does not wish to be identified by name.
The approved attributions grew out of increasing criticism of the news media for too readily granting anonymity to sources who provide information and failing to offer convincing explanations as to why anonymity is necessary.
Herewith, a sampling of the more than 2,000 approved attributions:
– who requested anonymity for fear his mother would take down the old leather belt hanging on a nail behind the kitchen door and whup his ass to hell and beyond.
– who requested anonymity for fear his gas mileage might skyrocket, forcing him to give up his Chevy Suburban and switch to some kind of pantie-waisted hybrid.
– said a West Wing official who requested anonymity for fear the President might kick his/her butt all over the South Lawn while the entire White House staff watched.
– said a State Department aide who requested anonymity for fear he/she might be posted to the Baghdad embassy.
– who requested anonymity so that his wife will not find out that he ditches the lunch she packs for him everyday and eats at McDonald’s instead.
– who requested anonymity so that he/she would remain free to smoke marijuana in the bathroom during coffee breaks.
– who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation against his/her children by their piano teacher.
– who requested anonymity for fear of being forced by his wife to put on a tuxedo and go to the opera with her.
– who asked not to be identified because it would probably cause his/her property taxes to go up.
– who requested anonymity so as to avoid coming to the attention of the National Security Agency.