Shale Hit Piece Illustrates Classic Problems of Anonymous Sourcing

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Vorys

So says the NYT public editor about yet another NYT article on the dangers associated with U.S. shale production:  "In the article and in the document viewer, readers never learn the actual positions or identities of the e-mail senders, who are characterized using descriptors like 'official,' 'energy analyst,' 'federal analyst,' 'senior adviser' or 'senior official.' Nowhere is an e-mailer characterized as an 'intern.'"  (Emphasis is ours.)  What's happened to the paper of record?

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