21st century Quote by Joe Klein
“Anonymous sources are a practice of American journalism in the 20th and 21st century, a relatively recent practice. The literary tradition of anonymity goes back to the Bible.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, 2015, “The Rise of Anonymous Sources”
Anonymous sources have become common in modern journalism, though anonymity has historic roots.
In simple terms: Anonymous sources are now common, but have long history.
Consider source credibility when anonymity is used.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- news reporting
- investigative journalism
- media criticism
- academic study
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is anonymity justified?
- How can readers assess truthfulness?
Anonymity can obscure accountability and lead to misinformation.