Touchy Writing Problem

January 30, 2007 9:07 PM

Writers and journalists please respond: I'm concerned about the anonymity of a subject in my writing. The obvious idea is to change names, however...

The subject was a terrorist in the early 1980's. We were pretty close friends and often worked together in Southern Europe.

I don't want to "out" him/her, but I think what I have to write might shed some light on what is now the common perception of terrorism.

Is it OK to just change names?

What obligation do I have to the subject?

There is no way of contacting the subject, I've tried.

Any ideas or personal anecdotes are greatly appreciated.

posted by snsranch to media & arts (16 comments total)

Change names, but be up front that you have done so.

... But if you were close friends/coworkers, aren't you risking outing that person via mutual acquaintances?
posted by JeremiahBritt at 9:20 PM on January 30, 2007

If anonymity is the goal, shouldn't you have avoided mentioning "We were pretty close friends and often worked together in Southern Europe"?
posted by juv3nal at 9:21 PM on January 30, 2007

It was in the early 80's. But thanks for the comments, I might just do this.
posted by snsranch at 9:35 PM on January 30, 2007

Write the damn thing first. (but to save time, change names). Then let the publisher worry about the logistics of how to cover your tracks.

But first thing first,

write.
posted by ryecatcher at 9:58 PM on January 30, 2007

Just change the name and add a Dragnet-style disclaimer: "Some names have been changed to protect the innocent (and/or guilty)."
posted by amyms at 10:16 PM on January 30, 2007

As a journalist, my first tendency would be FOR outing terrorists....
posted by Jahaza at 10:17 PM on January 30, 2007

Oh, yeah. And what Jahaza said. Isn't actually knowing the whereabouts of a terrorist but not reporting it a federal crime?

Looks like you're gonna have to spill some details so we can all rest easy tonight, pal. (and satiate my curiosity)
posted by ryecatcher at 10:55 PM on January 30, 2007

Ryecather's answer is best. Also, follow your conscience, with regards to whether or not you're revealing too much information and whether or not you really want to protect this person.
posted by Brittanie at 1:31 AM on January 31, 2007

Isn't actually knowing the whereabouts of a terrorist but not reporting it a federal crime?

To quote the original question:

"The subject was a terrorist."

Isn't getting a point of view from someone who gave up terrorism and followed a new path a really really fucking valuable thing for us to learn about? I flagged your responses as derails, but I'm sorry, you deserve a call out for this. If journalists went around turning in every bad guy they ever spoke to, we would all be left in the dark about a lot of things we need to know about.
posted by Jimbob at 3:27 AM on January 31, 2007 [2 favorites]

Isn't actually knowing the whereabouts of a terrorist but not reporting it a federal crime?

That's funny, I didn't know that Southern Europe was in the United States.

Also, a private citizen isn't required to report knowledge of a past crime to the government.

...We were pretty close friends...
what I have to write might shed some light on what is now the common perception of terrorism.

Obviously the poster isn't going to reveal their identity then. Please answer the question, we don't care how you feel about terrorism.

I think you absolutely have an obligation to protect this person's anonymity.

snsranch, you may have to publish this under a psuedonym as well as changing details like names of people, employers and places. If you write that you worked with your friend at organisation X, when it's easy to figure out that during that time you were actually with organisation Y, then that isn't really strong anonymity.
Obviously I understand that you'd want to write under your real name, but that may not be possible to square with keeping the guy anonymous.

If you do write this, tell us when you do, I would love to read it.
posted by atrazine at 5:29 AM on January 31, 2007

As a journalist, my first tendency would be FOR outing terrorists....

Jahaza

Seriously? In what context? The openess of society as enforced by the fifth estate? Or in a more partisan way? Please respond; I'm very interested in reading your reasoning in this.
posted by converge at 5:59 AM on January 31, 2007

What journalists should do with information pertaining to an unsolved crime is a REALLY complex ethical issue and deserves more serious treatment than callouts and accusations of derails. If you are going to publish, somewhere prominent, anything that may be of material interest to the police in [Southern European country] in connection to a specific open case, you do need to be aware that they might be getting in touch.

That shouldn't stop you writing necessarily of course, though. And of course there may be no relevant unsolved crimes here. In which case you have an obligation, I'd say, both to subject (to keep them anonymous) and reader (to make it clear you're using a made-up name).
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 6:43 AM on January 31, 2007

To answer the question: You could use a different name, as long as you disclose that you have done so. Don't use other false information. You could also see if creative writing techniques can be used to avoid her real name and also avoid a false name. (Maybe just call her "The Former Terrorist" in your writing.)

I wrote a list of questions to ponder, then read through your post again and realized that your friend might not even know that you're considering writing this thing. Are you really comfortable writing about conversations she may have thought were in confidence, without obtaining her permission? How do you feel about that ethically?

I'm going to the questions I typed, even though some assume that you're actually in communication with your source, which I realize you're not. You have an obligation to consider her best interests as you ponder these questions, since she won't be able to do so herself.

Some other things to consider:
Yourself - If law enforcement authorities take an interest in what you write, how far are you willing to go to protect your source? Are you willing to go to jail? For how long? If they subpoena your notes or get a search warrant and take your notes, will they be able to track down your source from the information therein? What steps will you take to protect your source? Are you comfortable with the possibility that writing about your friend could damage your friendship and alienate you in the future? Have you pondered any ethical conflicts that come about as a result of trying to write fairly about somebody that you are friends with? If you're unable to work because of legal problems that arise as a result of this article, do you have the financial resources to continue to get by?

Your employer - Are you employed by the newspaper, magazine, etc., that you are writing for? Are you a freelancer? Do you know the organization's policies on anonymous sourcing? Will you be required to provide your friend's name and contact info to your editor or to fact checkers? Do you trust them to protect her anonymity when faced with possible jail time or a subpoena from police? Does your source understand that these people will learn her name? Does the publication you're writing for provide legal support for its employees? For freelancers?

Your source - Have you talked to her about the possible legal implications for each of you? Does she understand your willingness to go to jail (or unwillingness to go to jail) to protect her anonymity? Does she understand that you're not the only one who will learn about her identity at the publication you're writing for? Does she understand that the article could still lead back to her, despite your best efforts? Is she willing to live with the consequences?
posted by croutonsupafreak at 7:26 AM on January 31, 2007

I'm going to post the questions ...
posted by croutonsupafreak at 7:27 AM on January 31, 2007

> As a journalist, my first tendency would be FOR outing terrorists....

Are you actually a journalist? I'm guessing you are not, but I'm curious. If you are, where did you go to school, and what sort of journalism do you practice now?
posted by Tacos Are Pretty Great at 9:47 AM on January 31, 2007

It was tough for me to post this question knowing that I might well get my meta-ass kicked around. I really appreciate you who actually read the question and understood the issue. Many thanks.
posted by snsranch at 2:30 PM on January 31, 2007