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Journalismism thread: Often, people who want to confidentially share their stories ask: how do you protect my identity? How do you ensure I stay anonymous? I have this conversation a lot with people, so I figured I'd share a few thoughts and techniques publicly.
In an ideal world, no article would rely on unnamed sources, but in reality, NDAs and press-averse employers make it essential to offer anonymity if you want to get at the truth. One of a journalist's top priorities is protecting those sources. So how do you do that?
First off, if someone requests anonymity, I won't tell anyone (aside from my editor as necessary) that I talked to them. Even other sources, even their friends, even their spouse! I also encourage sources not to tell anyone that they talked to me. Err on the side of paranoia!
The other important rule is not to publish anything unless I've heard it from at least two people (ideally three), both to corroborate and to protect those people. I've had to keep a whole lot of fascinating stories to myself over the years so as not to risk identifying sources.
There's always going to be some risk, but it can be mitigated with caution. Talking out loud is the best. Encrypted apps like WhatsApp/Signal are also useful. Most important rule: avoid using work email/phones/computers to talk to journalists! That's the #1 way people get caught!
I've heard stories about video game studio heads blatantly lying to their employees -- saying they found sources, that I told them who talked, that they have friends who gave them lists of names. These are false, manipulative tactics designed to scare employees into shutting up
I am constantly in awe of the courage it takes for people to put themselves at risk to tell their stories, and always grateful to those who do choose to speak out, whether to me or other reporters. It'd be impossible to tell the truth without you! End of thread
