Anonymity Technologies in Investigative Journalism: A Tool for Inspiring Trust in Sources

ABSTRACT

Investigative journalism, like other sectors of social life, has undergone significant changes due to globalization, technological progress, and the Western world’s turn to neoliberalism. This context has facilitated the emergence of new practices within the profession, particularly new modes of communication between journalists and their confidential sources. This qualitative study focuses on the meaning journalists attribute to the use of these technologies in their relationships with their sources. Anonymity tools are being used to build the professional identity of investigative journalism (both collectively and individually) and therefore constitute a resource in the power relationship between journalists and their sources, a relationship that is not fundamentally changed by their use.

KEYWORDS:

• Investigative journalism
• anonymity technologies
• journalistic sources
• surveillance
• professional identity
• relationship with sources

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - Insights Program [Grant Number #435-2018-1060].