Sometimes anonymous sources are the only option
 |
Submitted by creilly on Tue, 2008-07-08 17:17. |
The Sun-Star rarely publishes stories that rely on anonymous sources. In the two-and-a-half years I've worked here, I have agreed to withhold sources' names three times.
The most recent was a story that ran last week about failed safety policies at U.S. Penitentiary Atwater, the federal prison where inmates stabbed to death a 22-year-old correctional officer last month.
I've never relied on anonymous sources as heavily as I did for this story. I was a little uncomfortable doing it. Unnamed sources always decrease a story's credibility.
But in this case, I don't think I had any other choice. The information the story revealed was important, and anonymous sources were the only means of getting it.
In the first few days after Jose Rivera's murder, officials at USP Atwater and the Bureau of Prisons wouldn't even say whether Rivera was wearing a stab-resistant vest. Talking to people who work at the prison was the only option, and none was willing to lose his job for breaking a BOP policy that bars employees from talking to reporters.
Journalism is full of tough calls, but this wasn't really one of them. As one reader said in an e-mail to me the day the story ran, "The story of what's going on inside the walls of USP Atwater is one that had to be told. What matters now is whether things there are changed."
Tough Call- Good decision
|
Submitted by johalex on Wed, 2008-07-09 10:19.
|
One of the things I like about reading your stories is that you have an excellent "gut" feeling about that fine line between truth and exaggeration. Just listen to your "gut" and we'll keep on reading!
Thanks!
Keep on this story!
|
Submitted by bkmmb5 on Wed, 2008-07-09 07:26.
|
Ms. Reilly, I wrote to you privately, but I wanted to tell you publically to not let this story go out of the spotlight! Your article was right on the money, and everything you were told was correct. As the wife of an Officer, this story was way overdue, and it breaks my heart that Jose Rivera paid the price. Our hope is now that Mr. Rivera's death will not be in vain, but will bring about the changes necessary to keep the rest of our staff safe. We have since left Atwater and are at a different unit, but it's all the same story nationwide. Thank you and God Bless, Kelly L.
Syndicate
The story had to be told
Corinne: You did a great job on the story. I emailed you a press release from USP - Hazleton, which I believe "increases your story's credibility". If you feel it's appropriate, you can get it linked to your Reporter's Notebook. Keep up the good work. It's the only way the community will know the facts.