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Five Thirty Eight Article on Unnamed Sources

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:02 am
by silverscreenselect
Here's an interesting article by one of the 538.com writers that gives some guidelines about whether and when to trust unnamed sources. Some of this is common sense, but they give examples. The more unnamed sources and the more specific sources, e.g. "Justice Department officials" vs. "administration officials," the more likely the story will be true. Predictions about the future, like what Comey will say in his testimony, are less likely to be true than statements about things that have already occurred. He'll be writing a follow-up article soon.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/wh ... d-sources/

Re: Five Thirty Eight Article on Unnamed Sources

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:20 am
by BackInTex
silverscreenselect wrote:Predictions about the future.....are less likely to be true than statements about things that have already occurred
Some of this is common sense
Hard to believe people are paid for such "insight". Or conversely, that it has to be explained to some people.