“All About Sources”

Written by Todd Schindler

The tip comes from an anonymous caller: "You ought to look into how Company X keeps its workers in the dark about handling toxic chemicals." Click. Sources can be the most difficult and the most productive part of an investigation, and how you handle them will determine how well your story progresses. While government documents and corporate records can do wonders in bringing to light abuses and other shenanigans, they suffer from one major flaw: They can't talk. And in the business of investigative journalism, where reporters work on the assumption that there is always somebody out there who knows, getting people to talk is the No. 1 priority.

But this too has its drawbacks. There are some sources who are going to be honest and altruistic, and there others who are going to bring every Machiavellian technique to bear in order to play you like a violin. A good number fall somewhere between those two ends of that spectrum. Knowing how to "read" your sources can mean the difference between being a discerning journalist and a dupe.

During your investigation, you'll be talking to, at the very least, dozens of sources. We'll begin with the tipsters, those folks like our caller who, for whatever reason, feel compelled to pass along potentially damning information about corporations, government departments and officials, and the like. Some choose to remain anonymous and you'll never hear from them again after the initial contact. But more frequently, tipsters will hang around throughout your investigation feeding you whatever morsels of information they might have at their disposal.

The question is, why would somebody elect to confide in you? Aside from the chance that they just get a thrill out of seeing their ideas in the paper, there are two basic reasons: (1) They have strong feelings about the public good and transparency in democracy, or (2) they've got a bone to pick. It's not unusual that a tipster will be an ex-employee who was fired or laid off and is still smarting. This doesn't mean you should disregard what he tells you. But always make sure you confirm the veracity of his information by consulting public records and contacting other individuals who are privy to the same facts. If he is aiding you in nailing his ex-boss, talk to several other former and current employees of the organization in addition to your tipster source.

And beware. If you fail to fully vet your sources' claims, you could end up like the folks at CBS who in 2004 were publicly taken to task after they aired a piece alleging that President George W. Bush had received "special treatment" that allowed him to shirk military service in Texas. Turns out the documents verifying this -- which were handed to CBS reporters by a source -- were, well, not exactly authentic.

The other sources you consult will depend on what type of investigation you're running. It's always a good idea to get as many general sources on record as you can. If you're looking into government waste by a particular agency, talk to as many people who work there as you can to get an idea of how things run, why things are done in certain ways, and how the chain of command works. Make friends with them; many might have sealed lips, but you never know when one of these new sources might decide to slip you a juicy tidbit that could make your story. Perhaps you'll hook a high-level "Deep Throat" with a beef who can help keep you on the scent.

If your investigation targets a particular individual, interview his co-workers, his employees, his neighbors, his exes, his fellow duffers at the country club. Someone with information might still be fuming over the "gimme" your man took on the 18th hole last time around. You'll be surprised at how little it sometimes takes for a person to turn into an informant.

University professors and researchers at think tanks also make great sources if they deal in your focus area, as do other reporters and law enforcement officials. They can help you understand complicated technical points and keep you up to date on new developments. Consult them frequently, let them know to keep their eyes peeled.

The more sources you cultivate, both those intimately entwined with the investigation and those on the periphery, the better chance you have of making your investigation pay off.