DAILY MAIL IS USING ANONYMOUS REPORTERS

News .
Article
Fugitive pedophile who died in West Village gun battle was turned in by his boss who recognised him from crime show

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 30th 2014, 7:51:07 am

Charles Mozdir, 32, had been on the run since 2012, but thanks to the tip, authorities tracked him to a Greenwich Village smoke shop.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
What a difference! Leggy Debra Messing looks sexy in little black dress after arriving on set of The Mysteries Of Laura in dowdy ensemble

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 30th 2014, 6:04:40 am

The 45-year-old actress hid her trim figure in a large white button-down blouse and baggy black skirt, as she perked up with a large cup o' Joe.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Cashing in! Naomi Watts looks svelte in skinny jeans as she collects a hefty wad of bills from an ATM

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 5:56:22 am

It was a productive day in Los Angeles for the 45-year-old Diana actress, who came away with a large wad of cash and freshly blow-waved hair.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'Same size my entire life!' Kim Zolciak shares snaps of her amazing abs in various bikinis after swimming with her boys

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 4:59:09 am

She's a mother-of-six but insists she's been the same size her entire life.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Erin Heatherton and her impressive pins lead a posse of international models at the opening of a clothing store in Brazil

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 4:03:58 am

A supermodel's life takes place in exotic spots all over the world. For Erin Heatherton, Tuesday's location happened to be Brazil, where she graced a Sao Paolo clothing store with her presence to celebrate its opening.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Maggie Gyllenhaal is retro chic in a baggy cream blouse and tan leather-like skirt as she runs errands in NYC

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 4:00:19 am

Opting for an effortless look, the 36-year-old actress sported a sheer off-white button-down blouse and tan leather-like A-line skirt.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'Beautiful moment today': Heavily pregnant Doutzen Kroes cradles her large bump in tight black dress as she poses with gal pal

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 2:17:07 am

She is due to give birth this month. Doutzen Kroes is clearly making the most of this pointy end of her pregnancy, and on Tuesday she shared the love with another pregnant friend - dutch model and actress Lieke van Lexmond - in an Instagram snap.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Lace wins the race! Mel B is leggy in vintage-inspired frock as she beats Heidi Klum in style wars on America's Got Talent red carpet

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 2:10:10 am

Each week it seems Heidi Klum and Mel B battle to outdo each other in the fashion stakes. And the America's Got Talent Judges were at it again on Tuesday in New York. And this time, Mel B was the clear winner in a short lacey frock.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Ready for her next selfie! Kim Kardashian goes for a day of pampering in Beverly Hills wearing a tight all-black ensemble

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 1:09:56 am

Though Kim Kardashian kept her sculpted physique under wraps, it was hard to miss her lean legs, as she headed to a salon appointment in Beverly Hills Tuesday.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Barefaced Anne Hathaway showcases her flawless complexion as she sports wet hair for early morning workout

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 1:03:01 am

She's been hard at work on the set of her new film The Intern. But Anne Hathaway makes sure to squeeze in her early morning workouts. The 31-year-old went without make-up and sported wet hair as she left her apartment building on Monday in New York and headed to the gym.
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News .
Article
Grammar school teacher who took pupils on trips to youth hostels so he could abuse young boys is jailed for three years

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 12:54:49 am

John Mead, 76, a maths and physics teacher at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Blackburn, Lancs, has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting three boys under 13 in the 1970s.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Chloe Moretz is the picture of elegance in stylish black dress as she kicks off promotional tour for new film If I Stay

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 12:53:12 am

She's only 17 years old but is clearly taking this grown-up career in her stride. Chloe Moretz was a picture of grace and elegance as she arrived at Tysons Corner Center Mall in McLean, Virginia, on Tuesday to kick off the promotional tour for her latest movie, If I Stay.
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Health .
Article
'Growing pains' that can lead to arthritis: Doctors warn that knee ache in teenage years should always be treated

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 12:37:45 am

For half of teenagers experiencing pains in their knees, the pain does not go away - and if it is not properly treated, it could turn into osteoarthritis.
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Health .
Article
Drink warning for the middle-aged: Too much booze can double risk of memory loss later in life

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 12:25:19 am

A study of 6,542 Americans found that middle-aged people with a history of problem drinking were twice as likely to develop memory loss in later life.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Ellen Pompeo arrives at celebrity hair salon sporting scraggly locks before emerging transformed with bouncy curls

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 30th 2014, 12:07:52 am

Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo treated herself to an expensive day at the hair salon where on average hair treatments cost $500
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'It wasn't about the sex but the intimacy': Nick Viall insists he never meant to 'humiliate' Bachelorette Andi Dorfman after revealing on TV they 'made love'

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 11:43:09 pm

He shocked Bachelorette Andi Dorfman when he revealed on live television that 'they made love'. Now runner-up Nick Viall is rushing to clarify his statements, insisting he never meant to 'humiliate' lawyer, who accepted Josh Murray's proposal during the show's finale on Monday night.
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News .
Article
How EU could censor Facebook pages using 'right to be forgotten rule' deemed wrong in principle and unworkable in practice by the House of Lords

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 11:41:33 pm

The law – which allows anyone to request for material about them to be taken off the internet – could apply to every individual who uses the internet or social media.
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Femail .
Article
The incredible roll-up wellies that squish down to one-fifth of their original size!

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 11:29:21 pm

The Sardines wellies, made by Barcelona-based designer Estel Alcaraz, are made of a type of plastic that can be rolled up to a fifth of its original size.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Mom on a mission! Kristin Cavallari reveals incredibly toned legs in LBD... two months after the birth of son Jaxon

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 11:27:00 pm

She recently revealed she started working out just three weeks after her son Jaxon was born. And Kristin Cavallari was telling no lie, as she proved when she stepped out in a traffic-stopping ensemble on Tuesday making it clear she's in excellent shape.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Not such a tough guy! Charlie Hunnam gets pampered by Sons Of Anarchy co-stars in hilarious video explaining his Comic-Con absence

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 11:11:27 pm

The clip shows the 34-year-old hunk is being pampered by his Sons Of Anarchy co-stars, with the blonde star seen laying on his stomach, as his co-star Tommy Flanagan treats him to a manicure.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'My favorite hue is Jay Z Blue': Beyonce shares heartwarming beach snap of husband and daughter amid rumours of imminent split

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 10:42:57 pm

Her marriage to Jay-Z is rumoured to be on the rocks. But Beyonce continues to paint a rosy picture of their life on Instagram.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
But she's rich and lives in a mansion! Ashley Tisdale tries to look gangster in tank top that represents one of LA's roughest neighborhoods

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 10:41:38 pm

She's lives in a mansion in quaint Toluca Lake and has an enviable acting career that has earned her millions of dollars.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Best post-baby body ever? Olivia Wilde shows off trim figure in skinny jeans just three months after giving birth to son Otis

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 10:25:47 pm

She only gave birth to her baby boy Otis three months ago. So whatever Olivia Wilde is doing, it's working, as she looked very slim as she hit the streets of New York City on Tuesday for a stroll with a female friend.
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News .
Article
War and peace: The incredible photographs that contrast the horror of the D-Day battlefields in 1944 with their present-day serenity

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 10:06:49 pm

Seventy years ago, the coast and countryside of France played host to some of the fiercest fighting in the Second World War. Today, it is a haven of peace and a destination for tourists.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'You're obsessed!' Kris Jenner blasts daughter Kim Kardashian for taking 1,200 selfies during Thailand trip

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 10:01:09 pm

She has been nicknamed the 'momager' for masterminding her children's careers in the spotlight. But even Kris Jenner appears alarmed by daughter Kim Kardashian's extreme vanity.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Not afraid to stand out, is she? Model Alessandra Ambrosio steps out in mirrored sunglasses and very bright orange leggings as she heads to workout

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 9:55:58 pm

Alessandra Ambrosio was spotted making her way to a SoulCycle class in Santa Monica, California wearing
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Die Hard actor James Shigeta dies in his sleep at the age of 81

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 8:26:06 pm

In a statement to E! News, his publicist Jeffrey Leavitt said, 'It is with great sadness that I report the loss of my long time friend and client. James passed peacefully in his sleep, July 28, 2014, at 2 p.m. The world has lost a great actor. Sadly, I lost a dear friend.'
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Revealed: Maya Rudolph names fourth child after her late mother (who died aged 31) as she files birth certificate a year on

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 7:52:10 pm

Riperton, best known for her 1975 song Lovin' You, tragically died just two weeks before Maya's seventh birthday in 1979 after losing a battle with breast cancer.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
She's pregnant again! Grey's Anatomy star Sarah Drew announces she's expecting second child by sharing bump photo on Twitter

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 7:27:40 pm

The Grey's Anatomy star announced on her Twitter page that she and husband Peter Lanfer are expecting a second child
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'It's tough to fall in love at 17': Chloë Moretz reveals why she's not ready for a boyfriend while posing for edgy fashion shoot

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 6:36:29 pm

Chloë Moretz confesses she's not looking for a long term relationship just yet and she rather focus on being a 17-year-old teenager
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News .
Article
Factory boss obsessed with cleanliness has 150 bins fitted along 200-yard pavement alongside his workplace

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 1:54:49 pm

Factory owner Chan Wu, complained about staff sitting on the benches to eat their lunch at midday, and leaving behind litter in the city of Shenzhen in south-eastern China's Guangdong province.
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News .
Article
Beautiful Italian girl, 19, killed when her long hair caught on her steering wheel and her car veered into oncoming traffic

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 11:04:47 am

Caterina Alzetta and her brother Pietro, 21, had to be cut free from the wreckage and she died later in hospital from her injuries in the northern Italian town of Montereale Valcellina.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Beach (Mc)Queen! Gemma Merna smoulders in blue tie-dye bikini with gold chain detailing during swimwear shoot in Mallorca

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 6:46:20 am

Gemma Merna gave her best sultry pout when she was spotted posing for a swimwear shoot on a beach in Mallorca this week.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Khloe Kardashian accentuates her figure in tight-fitting black dress as rushes to catch a flight out of LAX

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 6:35:56 am

Khloe Kardashian kept it casually glamorous when she took a flight out of Los Angeles Monday by wearing a black, floor-length summer dress paired with a jean vest.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Casual style icon! Make-up free Chloe Grace looks effortlessly fashionable in simple ensemble for lunch with her brother Trevor

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 5:55:44 am

She is certainly a fledgling style icon. On Monday, actress Chloe Grace Moretz looked effortlessly fashionable even dressed in a casual combo of a rugby shirt and black trousers, as she went for lunch with her brother Trevor.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
A long way from Quinn Fabray! Dianna Agron proves her Glee roots are far behind her as she goes conservative for new movie

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 5:47:00 am

Dianna Agron appeared far from her cheerleading character on Monday, as she sauntered around the set of her forthcoming film Headlock in Los Angeles.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Martha Stewart calls Blake Lively's decision to become a lifestyle guru 'stupid'

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 5:35:57 am

The 72-year-old lifestyle guru, who helped the 26-year-old actress plan her wedding to Ryan Reynolds in September 2012, thinks it's 'stupid' that the blonde beauty is said to be 'becoming the next Martha Stewart' because she is launching her own new lifestyle blog and brand, Preserve.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'I needed a social lubricant': Zac Efron opens up about the issues that sent him to rehab earlier this year on debut of Running Wild With Bear Grylls

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 5:05:38 am

It's been months since Zac Efron visited rehab. And the 26-year-old actor decided to open up about his issues not on a daytime talk show, but while out in the woods with adventurer Bear Grylls on his new TV show Running Wild. On Monday night's episode the High School Musical star explained his problems didn't stem from a heavy work load but from being famous. 'Pretty soon you need a social lubricant,' Efron said.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Thinking of Tori? Dean McDermott looks pensive as he paddleboards alone off Malibu Beach

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 4:42:38 am

Dean McDermott may be working to save his marriage to Tori Spelling, but he took some needed ‘me time’ Monday morning and spent a quiet morning paddle boarding on the beach.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
SPOILER ALERT: 'I've loved you from the moment I saw you': Andi Dorfman accepts Josh Murray's proposal in dramatic Bachelorette finale

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 4:27:23 am

The reality star shocked extremely confident runner-up Nick by breaking up with him just before he picked out a ring to propose with, and then told her future husband Josh that he had won her heart.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
They DO have more fun! Giuliana Rancic appears blissful as she shows off her new blonde locks during a sunny stroll in NYC

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 4:25:14 am

The 39-year-old proved blondes really do have more fun, as she stepped out in New York City Monday.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Beyonce goes apartment hunting 'on the sly' without husband Jay Z amid reports of marriage breakdown

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 4:22:51 am

They're battling rumours of a marriage breakdown amid their On The Run world tour. And adding fuel to fire, Beyonce allegedly went apartment hunting in New York without husband Jay Z. According to the New York Post, the 32-year-old toured a $21.5 million penthouse in Chelsea last month 'on the sly.'
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Style swap: Elle Fanning goes from casual to city chic as she treats herself to pamper session after running errands

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 3:32:53 am

Elle Fanning proved to have quite a versatile look as she stepped out on Monday, wearing two very different ensembles.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
The honeymoon's not over yet! Taylor Armstrong and John Bluher are the picture of newlywed bliss as they leave TV interview

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 3:17:31 am

The 42-year-old socialite wore a curve-hugging beige dress for a television appearance with John in New York on Monday and styled her signature blonde hair in long waves.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Newlywed Naya Rivera Dorsey dons skintight leather trousers as she steps out solo on smoothie run

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 3:07:33 am

She jetted back from Mexico over the weekend following her whirlwind wedding to Ryan Dorsey
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
His and hers! Loved-up Ashlee Simpson and fiancé Evan Ross wear matching fedoras while running errands

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 1:48:38 am

Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross may be planning a traditional wedding for August 31, but the pair were all about looking trendy on their afternoon stroll in Los Angeles on Monday.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
Chrissy Teigen shows off her slim shape in a see-through blouse as she attends DuJour Magazine event with her love John Legend

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 1:30:47 am

The 28-year-old model displayed her trim waist in a see-through black lace blouse, as she promoted her lasted feature in DuJour Magazine, in which she's pictured devouring a cheesy slice of pizza.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
In bed with Mrs. Baldwin! Hilaria does the splits in her skimpy negligee for latest yoga snapshot

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 12:34:07 am

Hilaria revealed her long and toned legs - and how flexible she is - as she did the splits across her mattress.
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TV&Showbiz .
Article
'Work hard, play harder': Makeup-free Alessandra Ambrosio wears a tank top with a message on it as she picks up chocolate drink after working out

By Daily Mail Reporter - July 29th 2014, 12:33:47 am

She has won dozens of top modeling contracts from Victoria's Secret to Giorgio Armani. But Alessandra Ambrosio insists she is not all about making the big bucks. Or at least that's what her 'Work Hard, Play Harder' tank top insisted she does as the 33-year-old Brazilian born beauty picked up a chocolate drink after a workout in LA on Monday.
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News .
Article
British shoppers get a raw deal on fruit compared to the continent, claims campaigner who calls for probe into supermarket pricing

By Daily Mail Reporter- July 29th 2014, 12:24:41 am

Joanna Blythman said she was shocked by the prices in big stores compared to the continent – where soft fruit, such as peaches, can cost as little as €1.50 (about £1.20) a k



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Twitter: spj_tweets: SPJ's board will be meeting at 2 p.m. ET today to appoint a student rep & a Region 11 director. Appointees announced will serve until #EIJ14







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This committee's purpose is to encourage the use of the Society's Code of Ethics, which promotes the highest professional standards for journalists of all disciplines. Public concerns are often answered by this committee. It also acts as a spotter for reporting trends in the nation, accumulating case studies of jobs well done under trying circumstances.


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Kevin Z. Smith
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Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism
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Fred Brown, vice chair
2862 S. Oakland Ct.
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Lauren Bartlett
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Elizabeth Donald
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Jim Pumarlo
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Home > Ethics > SPJ Ethics Committee Position Papers > Anonymous Sources

SPJ Ethics Committee Position Papers
Anonymous Sources

Few ethical issues in journalism are more entangled with the law than the use of anonymous sources. Keep your promise not to identify a source of information and it’s possible to find yourself facing a grand jury, a judge and a jail cell. On the other hand, break your promise of confidentiality to that source and it’s just possible you might find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit.

Ethics Position Papers

Introduction/Index

— Using the SPJ Code
— Reporting on Grief, Tragedy and Victims
— Anonymous Sources
— Accountability
— Political Involvement
— Checkbook Journalism
— Plagiarism

Anonymous sources certainly have a checkered journalistic history. None is more famous and perhaps none was more important than Watergate’s “Deep Throat,” the FBI source who helped The Washington Post unravel the White House cover-up of the Watergate break-in. And perhaps none was more infamous than those Janet Cooke invented to concoct her fictitious Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a child heroin addict.

Anonymity is the name of the Washington game. Everyone seems to be an administration or congressional source or a law enforcement or military source. Politics and ego-stroking seem to dissolve everyone into “unnamed.” A New York Times columnist arguing about a published article with three senior White House aides even referred to President Obama as one of “four senior members of the administration” in a subsequent column.

Anonymous sources are sometimes the only key to unlocking that big story, throwing back the curtain on corruption, fulfilling the journalistic missions of watchdog on the government and informant to the citizens. But sometimes, anonymous sources are the road to the ethical swamp.

The SPJ Code of Ethics contains two pointed statements on anonymous sources:

1. Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.

The most important professional possession of journalists is credibility. If the news consumers don’t have faith that the stories they are reading or watching are accurate and fair, if they suspect information attributed to an anonymous source has been made up, then the journalists are as useful as a parka at the equator.

To protect their credibility and the credibility of their stories, reporters should use every possible avenue to confirm and attribute information before relying on unnamed sources. If the only way to publish a story that is of importance to the audience is to use anonymous sources, the reporter owes it to the readers to identify the source as clearly as possible without pointing a figure at the person who has been granted anonymity. If the investigating police officer confirms John Doe has been arrested, the officer is a “source in the police department” and not even a pronoun should point to the gender.

2. Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

The information-gathering business is a give-and-take practice with a lot of public officials. Some are willing to provide information only when it benefits them. When someone asks to provide information off the record, be sure the reason is not to boost her own position by undermining someone else’s, to even the score with a rival, to attack an opponent or to push a personal agenda. Media outlet practices vary, but journalists should not overlook the danger of legal problems and credibility damage from publishing anonymously sourced information that is not confirmed by public records or credible sources. Before journalists allow themselves to be used by an anonymous source they should be sure to question whether the news value warrants whatever the source hopes to accomplish.

Journalists should never take information off the record without the approval of a supervisor and an understanding of the news outlet’s policy. Some organizations do not allow anonymous sources except in the most vital news stories. Journalists also should make sure they and their source are talking about the same agreement. Does off-the-record mean the information can never be used, can be used if another source confirms the information on the record or public records substantiate, or simply the information can be used as long as the source’s name is not used (a city official, an employee of the football team, etc.) And publishing information without verification from multiple sources, even if they are all off the record, is a dangerous practice.

Agreeing not to attribute the information to the source and then breaking the promise has two negative consequences for journalists. First, it damages the credibility of the promise-breaker and the media outlet he or she works for. Others with important information may decline to provide information off or even on the record if the reporter is not trustworthy. And second, there is at least one instance in which a person lost his job because the reporter who promised him confidentiality broke it, and the unemployed source sued the newspaper and won.

The wisdom of using anonymous sources has been the subject of an ongoing debate in journalism for years. The “anonymous source tracker” at the website inkstainedwretch.com dispels any notion that anonymous sources are used rarely today. Reporters and editors must weigh the cost of relying on anonymous sources.

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This statement expresses the views of the SPJ Ethics Committee. It was written for the Committee by Michael Farrell, Ph.D., director of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center at the University of Kentucky and associate professor in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. He is a member of SPJ's Ethics Committee.

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