Sourcing News M Grazia Bus 2013 Sourcing Journalists

Sourcing News © M. Grazia Busà 2013

Sourcing Ø Journalists’ stories are based on information gathered from various sources Ø The practice of locating and using information from sources is ‘sourcing’ Ø Sourcing allows journalists to base stories on facts and pursue objectivity and fairness © M. Grazia Busà 2013

Sources of information Ø On-diary sources: contacted as part of journalists’ daily routine ● Ø Off-diary sources: used in case of unanticipated events ● Ø Police; fire brigade; schools and community groups; city council members; business leaders; bodies of the government and the parliament, etc. Media and news agencies; cuttings from newspapers; experts in the field, victims and witnesses of events, etc. Printed sources: ● Published documents, public records, the Internet, databases, newsgroups, etc. © M. Grazia Busà 2013

Reporting sources of information Ø Attribution of sources … ● lets readers know where the information comes from ● adds authenticity and authority to a story ● provides readers with elements to judge. . . q the quality of the information presented q whether the information is impartial or biased Ø Attributions can be omitted when the information is common knowledge or considered indisputable © M. Grazia Busà 2013

Naming sources of information Ø The name and qualifications (e. g. , titles) of the source are usually reported next to the quote ● ● ● Ø Sgt Smith, the local town chief police officer Mr Jones, the school principal Dr White, the hospital director Qualifications are especially important if sources are people whose opinion is recognized and valued in the field The purpose is to increase the credibility and authority of the facts reported in the quotes © M. Grazia Busà 2013

Quoting sources Sources’ information can be quoted directly or indirectly, or paraphrased. ØDirect ● speech: what was said is reported in ‘’ ‘I do not believe this is true’, said Mr Hughes ØIndirect speech: the sources’ words are reported with no quotes, as a subordinate clause to the main clause ● Hughes did not believe the fact was true ØParaphrase: summarised ● ● the sources’ words can be reworded and Hughes did not believe in the likelihood of the event Hughes was sceptical © M. Grazia Busà 2013

When sources of information are left vague Ø Sources’ titles or qualifications are generally omitted when they are assumed to be well known to the reader: ● Ø e. g. : Einstein, Ghandi, Michael Jackson, … When the journalist cannot assume that the source is well known, full attribution is given: ● e. g. , Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress … © M. Grazia Busà 2013

Anonymous sources Ø Sometimes sources may be anonymous because they do not want their identity to be known ● Ø Sources may also be left anonymous because their credibility or authority has not been checked or cannot be assumed: ● Ø A source close to the president said … A witness/a source said that … When sources are anonymous or unqualified, other expressions in the text (e. g. , modal verbs) may indicate tentativeness ● A source believed it was possible that … © M. Grazia Busà 2013