…whenever possible. There’s a time and a place where you should consider using, but certainly don’t default. At worst it can be seen as lazy/sloppy reporting, at best it allows skepticism to run wild while others second guess how accurate your source is.
A good read on when and how to use confidential sources is You Didn’t Hear This From Me, originally developed as part of the American Press Institute’s seminar, “Our Readers Are Watching,” and posted at No Train, No Gain.
dslunceford
