Dealing with confidential sources can be difficult, and as journalists we must take time to consider how we handle situations where people might not feel comfortable discussing certain events with us, or would prefer to remain anonymous.
This advice from Steve Buttry, director of student media, Louisiana State University, notes that the dynamics between reporters and their sources are entirely different depending on the source’s willingness to talk.
He covers a wide range of scenarios where a source may be reluctant, from the reporter looking to find out confidential information that is protected by law to seeking out personal and painful details, and gives his advice for overcoming some of these obstacles to find out what you need.
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