Everyday when reading the newspaper, on the internet, or on the TV news I read about someone who gave information on the condition they remain anonymous. I understand why someone would want to remain quiet about giving up possible sensitive or classified information.
My questions is, how do reporters basically go about getting some of these people? Do the slip them business cards? Are some of the ‘informers’ paid money by reporters? Do reporters and tipsters trade information?
Mods, I am looking for factual answers, stories, etc. here, but if you feel this belongs somewhere else, so be it.
Usually, they are just officials of the company/government agency. The reporter develops relationships with them over time, often by interviewing them for the record. When big news develops, the reporter calls people they’ve had contact with (not just from interviews, but also from press conferences, social events, etc.) and asks for a comment off the record. Some refuse, but others like the idea of giving the information (it’s akin to the urge to gossip). Sometimes it even works with a cold call – a secretary might be flattered to think her comments are in the paper and lets things slip on the understanding she won’t be named.
In other cases, the informant calls the reporter with the information. They may know the reporter beforehand or not.
Sources like these are never paid. Paying a source gives people the incentive to make up things to get the money.
I would add this to RealityChuck’s excellent post: Often , especially in Washington, officials leak anonymously to hurt enemies*. In these cases **they ** want to leak and want remain anonymous sometimes it is even they who start the story not the reporters – and could seek a reporter out if they don’t know him (or of him) – but usually there is a previously existing previous relationship.
(*sometimes enemies in the other party, maybe it is to hurt another Cabinet member in a zero sum game or maybe it is to take down someone within their own agencies. There are many reason for this besides the obvious relative advantage of putting your enemy in Dutch - like revenge or a strategy to clip an enemy on another issue’s feathers)
I have heard the Washington Post and New York Times editors on TV agonize over some of these leaks – it really is newsworthy if A is leaking about this issue to scuttle B’s presidency bid or to become the foremost Cabinet member– but in the end they don’t report it and try to find another way to get at the tensions.