Anonymous sources in the Maltese press

Abstract

Anonymous Sources in the Maltese Press provides an insight on the phenomenon of unidentified sources in the Maltese press. It investigates whether or not anonymous attribution is extensively used by local journalists. The content of local newspapers during a three-month period was examined to assess the frequency of anonymous attribution in the Maltese press. Besides quantifying all the instances in which anonymous sources were quoted, the analysis considers the type of information which such sources provide and how much prominence they are given and also identifies the type of stories that tend to rely on anonymous sources more than others. The dissertation sheds light on the ethical dilemmas which journalists have to face when granting confidentiality to a source and also includes the journalists' point of view about the issue. The literature review also brings together an array of writings about the subject which portray anonymous attribution both as an effective method of reporting and as a form of ne\vs manipulation.