Sample interview questions: How do you approach fact-checking information provided by anonymous sources in your business reporting?
Sample answer:
Fact-Checking Information from Anonymous Sources
Fact-checking information provided by anonymous sources requires a rigorous and cautious approach. Here’s how I would approach it:
1. Verify the Source’s Credibility:
- Assess the source’s knowledge, experience, and potential motives for anonymity.
- Investigate their past interactions with the media or other credible sources.
- Consider if the information aligns with other known facts or intelligence.
2. Corroborate with Other Sources:
- Seek corroborating evidence from independent sources, including official records, interviews with named individuals, or industry analysts.
- Compare the anonymous source’s information with publicly available data or research.
- Verify the accuracy of any specific claims or assertions made by the source.
3. Contextualize and Quantify:
- Place the information in context and provide details about the source’s relationship to the story.
- Quantify information whenever possible, attributing it clearly to the anonymous source.
- Use phrases like “according to sources familiar with the matter” or “a person close to the negotiations” to acknowledge the source’s anonymity.
4. Evaluate the Potential Impact:<... Read full answer
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/8_0_21/Business%20Journalist