Energy Environmental Blog

Shale Hit Piece Illustrates Classic Problems of Anonymous Sourcing

Written by Greg Russell | Aug 6, 2011 7:35:00 PM

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?