How do journalists generally protect their sources?

• A. By publishing their names with the story
• B. By granting anonymity or confidentiality when necessary
• C. By sharing their information on social media
• D. By involving law enforcement in the story

Answer: (B)

In journalism, protecting sources is a fundamental ethical practice, especially when those sources provide sensitive or potentially dangerous information. Granting anonymity or confidentiality allows journalists to ensure that individuals can share information without fear of retribution or exposure. This is particularly important when sources may risk their safety, job security, or personal relationships by coming forward with information that could disrupt the status quo or expose wrongdoing.

When journalists use anonymity, they can still provide crucial information to the public while respecting the privacy and safety of their sources. This practice helps build trust between journalists and the people they interview, encouraging more individuals to speak out about issues that matter to society. By maintaining confidentiality, journalists uphold a key principle of ethical reporting, which is to balance the public's right to know with the rights of individuals.

In contrast, the other approaches would compromise the integrity of the journalist-source relationship. Publishing names would risk exposing sources who may not want to be identified. Sharing information on social media could also endanger sources by making their identities easily traceable. Involving law enforcement could deter sources from coming forward altogether, fearing legal repercussions. Thus, providing anonymity or confidentiality is widely recognized as the most appropriate way for journalists to protect their sources.