Anonymity within Bloomer Mag
By Oba Cantine
When promising confidentiality to a source, ensure that the information that was entrusted to you can be proven as factual; and ensure that the source of said information is viable for allowing you to access the defenses used to protect you from being sued for defamation or libel.
Similar to the Reporter Committees checklist for promising anonymity, ensure that sources will allow the reveal of their identity in order to help clear a writer/publisher of recklessly relying on the source’s information. Due to the possibility of prejudgments on the side of the prosecution.
We encourage writers to be aware of their cities shield laws, in regards to how it protects journalists ability to keep sources anonymous.
Citing the New York Courts 2013 decision as an example, where they decided to protect Fox News reporter Jana Winter from a Colorado subpoena that would’ve forced her to reveal Confidential sources during the trial of James Holmes.
In 2012, James Holmes, shot up a movie theater during a midnight showing of the film Dark Knight claiming to be the Joker before opening fire on the unassuming crowd. During a police investigation, it was discovered that Holmes had sent a notebook full of disturbingly violent thoughts and imagery with stick figures to his therapist.
Key confidential evidence that winter went on to publish in her article, causing the Colorado courts to issue her a subpoena in order to get her to reveal her source within the Colorado police department. An action that goes against New York states constitution; prohibiting the restraint or abridgment of speech and press.
