Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Communication Faculty Publications Department of Communication 2011 Anonymous Sources: A Utilitarian Exploration of Their Justification and Guidelines for Limited Use Matt J. Duffy
[email protected] Carrie Packwood Freeman Georgia State University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/communication_facpub Part of the Journalism Studies Commons Recommended Citation Duffy, M. J., & Freeman, C. P. (2011). Anonymous sources: A utilitarian exploration of their justification and guidelines for limited use. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 26(4), 297-315. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Communication at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communication Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Unnamed sources: A utilitarian exploration Page 1 A similar version of this paper was later published as: Duffy, M. J. & Freeman, C. P. (2011). Anonymous Sources: A Utilitarian Exploration of Their Justification and Guidelines for Limited Use, Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 26(4), 297-315. Unnamed Sources: A utilitarian exploration of their justification and guidelines for limited use By Matt J Duffy, PhD & Carrie Packwood Freeman, PhD Unnamed sources: A utilitarian exploration Page 2 Abstract This article critically examines the practice of unnamed sourcing in journalism. A literature review highlights arguments in favor of and against their use. Then, the authors examine some common examples of anonymous sourcing using the lens of utilitarianism, the ethical model commonly used to justify the practice.