Anonymous Sources

When someone in the media uses an anonymous source it is because it is a fake source -- right?

Wrong.

Anonymous sources often provide crucial information while keeping the source and the journalist safe.  For example, if an employee gives confidential information to the media about the company he works for it is important that he or she keeps their anonymity to keep a job or save face.  Likewise, for a journalist to keep objectivity in a story he or she must not know who their source is.  Especially if the source is a well-known figure that would bias the story (although unintentionally.) 

I will be the first to admit that I am skeptical of media and the use of anonymous sources.  I have seen too many magazine articles about "Michael Jackson's newest plastic surgery" that obviously portray bogus information from fake sources.  As a citizen it is frustrating to question if you can trust the source.

But the fact of the matter is anonymous sources are necessary.  In order to write an accurate, unbiased story it is important to keep the journalist in the dark about certain sources.  Likewise, it is important to keep sources safe when information may be revelatory about important people.

But it comes down to the reader.  If something in an article seems off, it probably is.  If there is overwhelming evidence to suggest the truth, it probably is.

Ultimately, the reader must decide for themselves what is truth.