Honesty requires identifying the source of original investigative reporting.
The law imposes no duty to acknowledge the investigative journalist who uncovers facts important to public discourse.
The issue is attribution.
Investigative journalism often requires months or years of examining public records, locating witnesses, verifying documents, separating fact from rumor, organizing evidence, and recognizing relationships that had previously gone unnoticed.
Once an investigative journalist has published previously unknown facts, those facts should become freely available for anyone to report, discuss, analyze, criticize, or republish so long as the original investigative reporter is acknowledged.
The public has a legitimate interest in knowing the source of facts appearing in the news media.
Truthful attribution imposes no burden on the free exchange of information. It simply tells the public whose work uncovered the information.
Attribution ensures transparency.
Attribution establishes accountability.
Attribution requires honesty.
Journalism depends upon public confidence.
A rule of attribution strengthens public confidence in journalism.
The public deserves nothing less.
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Journalists And The Duty of Attribution
July 19, 2026 | Propaganda and Persuasion
Honesty requires identifying the source of original investigative reporting.
The law imposes no duty to acknowledge the investigative journalist who uncovers facts important to public discourse.
The issue is attribution.
Investigative journalism often requires months or years of examining public records, locating witnesses, verifying documents, separating fact from rumor, organizing evidence, and recognizing relationships that had previously gone unnoticed.
Once an investigative journalist has published previously unknown facts, those facts should become freely available for anyone to report, discuss, analyze, criticize, or republish so long as the original investigative reporter is acknowledged.
The public has a legitimate interest in knowing the source of facts appearing in the news media.
Truthful attribution imposes no burden on the free exchange of information. It simply tells the public whose work uncovered the information.
Attribution ensures transparency.
Attribution establishes accountability.
Attribution requires honesty.
Journalism depends upon public confidence.
A rule of attribution strengthens public confidence in journalism.
The public deserves nothing less.