Reporters and sources: where to draw the line

Reporters can walk a fine line when working closely with a source. After establishing a connection over time with a person who may be an alleged criminal, a cancer survivor or a small business owner, reporters can become placed in a situation where they might be crossing a line.

The friend zone: A reporter might enter the friend zone with someone who was a source. Once entering the friend zone, it is quite difficult to leave it. Doing favors for, making plans with and running errands for the source ruins journalistic integrity, only if the reporter plans to use that source again, which is very likely.

Difficult situations: Sometimes, reporter can be placed in a situation that may be compromising for the journalist. The source may ask a favor of the journalist. Is it appropriate for the journalist to do favors? It is always important to keep in mind that journalists should strive to be objective, fair and balanced.

Objectivity: Once a journalist becomes friendly with a source, it is difficult to obtain objectivity with that source. This is why journalists do not report on things they are involved in or people they know.

Obligation: A journalist may feel obligated to do a favor for a source because of the source’s helpfulness. For example, if a journalist broke a story because of this source, how should the journalist go about telling the source that they can’t take them to the hospital because he or she is a journalist. Is that fair? Is that even morally right?

These are real issues that journalists face, and there can be many more when working with sources and anonymous sources. It is important and vital that journalists know how to face these challenges head-on and deal with their sources up front.

The most important thing is to be honest. People, both sources and readers, alike, will respect the journalist for their honesty and integrity.