I have thought all along that John Cohen is the odds-on favorite to get the job. What about Bonner’s story? Did he get it right?Ī. If a story can be published only by relying on unnamed sources, two such sources are required and the editors must know the names of the sources and the circumstances around which they would have access to the information being discussed in the story. Mississippi Today, which carries my column now, has a policy not to use unnamed sources except in exceptional circumstances. If we could not, we would have at least two reliable unnamed sources, corroborating one another, before we would go with a story. Our policy became that we would exhaust every effort to get named sources. We missed on many important stories because we could not get critical sources to go on the record. At one time, we had a policy at the CL that we would not, under any circumstances, use unnamed sources. In general, what do you think of using unnamed sources in news stories?Ī. Probably the best way to address this is by answering many of the questions folks are asking. The goal is always to make a column as balanced as possible. I also have friends involved in this at Mississippi State. Indeed, it still does.įull disclosure: I have good friends and a son on the staff at the CL. The Clarion-Ledger immediately responded that it stands by the story. It’s unfair to the candidates seeking the position who have not yet been interviewed.” Doing so is irresponsible and in some ways may interfere with the process. I’m extremely disappointed that a reputable newspaper and reporter would make such a report without seeking basic confirmation of the facts of the story being circulated. Keenum: “The report today by The Clarion-Ledger’s Mike Bonner indicated that a decision has been made in that process was inaccurate. Not long after the story appeared on the newspaper’s website, MSU President Mark Keenum issued a statement scathing in its criticism of Bonner and the newspaper. Bonner cited unnamed sources who said the hiring will be made public at a press conference Tuesday.

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