How to remain an anonymous source
The recent anonymous op-ed in The New York Times has many asking just how secure an identity is—especially when reporting bombshell news. Here’s how to keep your name out of the headlines.
Can you truly hide your identity these days?
Like everyone else, I’m curious to learn the author of the now infamous New York Times anonymous op-ed. (Analysis from Slate and the BBC are fun to read.) Others can jump into the mud pit to wrestle over whether the author is a patriot or a coward. I’m interested in how one actually remains anonymous in the digital age.
According to some, the op-ed author approached the Times through an intermediary, and his or her identity was confirmed by the paper. However, if you wanted to get sensitive or confidential information to an outlet like the Times, could you do it and remain anonymous?
You can go right to the media outlets for answers. The Times, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Forbes, NPR,Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and USA Today, among others, offer ways to send a confidential news tip. SecureDrop and old-fashioned postal mail are the most common, but here are a few options:
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