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Towlie

(5,324 posts)

17. It's easy to criticize anonymous sources, but they're really more credible than they might seem.

Reply to procon (Reply #2)

Sun Jan 20, 2019, 08:39 PM

Jan 2019

News agencies wouldn't have such sources if they didn't agree to maintaining anonymity, so instead, an agency vets their source, using resources far more expansive and superior to anything we have, and then they stake their reputation on their confidence in that source. If an agency simply reported that a certain person told them something then that agency would be safe from criticism and the task would fall upon their readers/viewers to decide if the source was credible.

The greater the reputation of a news source, the greater the confidence you can have in the reports they relay from their anonymous sources, because even if you don't know who the anonymous source is you can be sure the agency knows and trusts them, and you trust the agency.

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Highlight:

Buzzfeed Double-Down! [View all] Towlie Jan 2019 OP

It's a huge bet PJMcK Jan 2019 #1

Can you briefly synopsize this news? Cracklin Charlie Jan 2019 #3

BuzzFeed reported that Mueller had evidence that Trump suborned perjury PJMcK Jan 2019 #4

Leopold seems to have quite a few lives in him. Cuthbert Allgood Jan 2019 #14

While I really want their allegations to be validated, procon Jan 2019 #2

I'm with you. cwydro Jan 2019 #10

It's easy to criticize anonymous sources, but they're really more credible than they might seem. Towlie Jan 2019 #17

The question I have with this is whether Trump's lawyers or associates, have fed this to Buzzfeed to OnDoutside Jan 2019 #5

Oh come now, I don't don't think they are fools. triron Jan 2019 #7

I'm not saying they are, but if they are presented with a story that Trump told Cohen to lie, and OnDoutside Jan 2019 #9

I still think it's possible Don Jr told Cohen to lie, that's what SCO says isn't accurate. CaptainTruth Jan 2019 #6

Damn, this is intriguing! triron Jan 2019 #8

Do we believe Jason Leopold or Mueller? Bonx Jan 2019 #11

They aren't mutually exclusive. Towlie Jan 2019 #12

Appears that way. triron Jan 2019 #13

Josh Marshall culls the wheat from the chaff DeminPennswoods Jan 2019 #15

Makes sense. Great post. Trump is screwed so many ways. Pepsidog Jan 2019 #18

TBD. He could still wriggle out of the trap and get re-elected. maxsolomon Jan 2019 #24

True. Though I doubt he can take Pa. Mi and Wis again. Pepsidog Jan 2019 #25

As they say in Yiddish: maxsolomon Jan 2019 #26

Doubt he took them before. Will always believe they cheated. chimpymustgo Jan 2019 #30

I wish I would have said that. After 2000 Bush v Gore all the Pepsidog Jan 2019 #31

Listening to MSNBC just now they were on a discreditation attack triron Jan 2019 #16

Watergate era attacks on the messenger (WAPO) looked much the same. Ford_Prefect Jan 2019 #19

Sometimes I don't feel good about Carol Loennig. She almost labeled them "fake news". triron Jan 2019 #20

The reporters who were all scooped by Buzzfeed DeminPennswoods Jan 2019 #21

knr triron Jan 2019 #22

kick for visibility triron Jan 2019 #23

I wonder if it is something Mueller just doesn't want out right now. redstatebluegirl Jan 2019 #27

You say it's a double down bet matt819 Jan 2019 #28

I bet its true! Who knows what Mueller was up to, but time will tell. Joe941 Jan 2019 #29