How ‘anonymous’ sources smear victims

You know 2020 is a strange year when, in addition to pandemics and protests, Donald Trump and Ellen DeGeneres agree on something.

That’s right. The conservative president and liberal Hollywood talkshow host have something in common. Both are victims of blistering attacks in the media courtesy of “anonymous sources.”

In the president’s case, The Atlantic published a story alleging that Mr. Trump canceled a trip to the Aisne-Marne American cemetery near Paris by stating: “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” The article continues: “In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 Marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as ‘suckers’ for getting killed.”

Great fodder for anti-Trumpers, as it fits their narrative that he is a heartless monster — except for one problem. There’s absolutely, positively no proof that he said any of those things. By “proof,” we’re talking about someone with the guts to go on the record, and explain, in detail, what the president said, where he said it, and when.

Instead, The Atlantic ran a sensational story — one still garnering nationwide headlines, and which has become a significant campaign issue — based on nothing but cowardly sources too scared to go on the record. The $64,000 question: Which is more pathetic, a media publication that would run such a feckless hit-piece, or the so-called Trump insiders — if they exist — who would slam their leader from the comfort of the cheap seats, smugly thinking they are tough guys but, in reality, are nothing but jealous poltroons?

Give The Atlantic credit for at least admitting how shallow the publication is, as it stated in the article: “These sources, and others quoted in this article, spoke on condition of anonymity.”

Anonymous allegations have no place within a media organization that wants to be taken seriously. Therefore, the solution is incredibly simple: Either compel the sources to go on the record, or don’t run their statements. Period — end of story. Literally. Otherwise, anonymity allows someone to make something up and slam a public figure with a broadside without recourse, since slander and libel suits are virtually impossible to win when an attack is on a public figure. The Atlantic certainly isn’t alone in running non-cited sources, as far too many media entities do just that on a regular basis.

And then we have Ellen. She was brutalized in the U.K.’s Daily Mail by an anonymous former employee who worked at DeGeneres’ household, who likened that environment to a traumatic military boot camp.

First things first. If you are a former employee — and therefore are not beholden to Ms. DeGeneres for job security — why the need for secrecy? Why be such a yellow-belly that you can’t go on the record? And if the answer is because Ellen could “blacklist” you in the Hollywood housecleaning circuit, you should be more concerned about performing your job for your current employer, rather than jadedly running the bus over a former boss.

News flash: Bosses sometimes assign you tasks which you don’t like. That’s life. So suck it up. In an age of complex problems, this one is incredibly easy. And by the way, maybe you should compare notes on “torture” with former prisoners of war. Here’s betting that their take on torture might differ just a bit from yours.

Anonymous sources should be flat-out rejected. They have no place in partisan politics, and the media should not utilize them - opting instead for credible reporting rather than destroying a person’s reputation on mere allegations. That doesn’t mean that reporters shouldn’t use background material from anonymous people; this author frequently engaged in that practice while producing hard-hitting investigative reports. The monumental difference is that such material was thoroughly vetted - not quotes from nameless sources.

Instead of providing evenkeeled reporting, the media has become obsessed with sensationalism, playing on fears and whipping up hysteria. As a result, journalism’s reputation now ranks alongside those of politicians, lawyers and snake oil salesmen. An increasingly lazy, biased and incompetent Fourth Estate has violated the cardinal rule of the media’s “Field Of Dreams:” If you provide content, they will come. That hasn’t been happening, and fans are exiting the ballpark.

To get them back, let’s start with an on-the-record suggestion: No more anonymous sources. And as a member of the media, I approve this message.