Thessssissss and ssssummary on anonymousssss ssssourcessss

Introduction: The introduction will open up with brief reports of stories in which the use of anonymous sources has been used for either good or bad. (Deep Throat, Guantanamo Bay, Valerie Plame, etc.). Following that will be the thesis, as written below.

Thesis: Anonymous sources have always been a constant thorn in the side of journalism as people argue for and against the use of them in media. Based on compiled research it has come to attention that if used carefully and backed up by reliable, named sources, there is no reason why an anonymous source cannot be used, since without them many news stories would never be heard.


Body: The first part of the body will examine the sources that are for the use of anonymous sources. I will touch on the guidelines of how an anonymous source should be used, the impact of what happens when anonymous sources are banned and the trouble they present for the media, and the terminology of ‘background’ that journalists use and the different levels. Also mentioned will be more in depth information on the cases from the introduction, and why they matter in terms of the go ahead for anonymous sources.

In order to keep with the base law of journalism, to show objectivity, I will then demonstrate the other side of the argument against anonymous sources. The information I’ll show will be the statistics of how the public perceives the use of anonymity and how they dislike it, the distrust felt by the use of the anonymous sources, and all of the cases in which anonymity has harmed or hurt someone or something in a way because of the information provided (generally incorrect).

To finish off the body of the paper, I will explain why this matters for the communication and journalism majors, expanding upon the guidelines used in the first part of they body for the set up of anonymous sources. I’ll give my own opinions on the reasons why I think anonymous sources should be used, so long as they are careful about it, and my connection with the topic.

Conclusion: I’ll state the thesis again and then wrap up the paper with a brief summary of the main points of keeping anonymous sources in the mass media. I’ll leave it on the idea of how many cases would not have been solved without the aid of anonymous sources and point out the fact that as long as they (the future journalists) are careful and cautious, they too could write a story that could help many people with the aid of anonymous sources.