Texas Tribune Protects Undocumented Migrants' Anonymity in Policy Shift
The Texas Tribune has revised its policy to respect undocumented migrants' preference for anonymity. This shift aligns with a broader trend among news organizations covering immigrant communities, aiming to protect sources amidst growing concerns.
Heather Tirado Gilligan, managing editor of El Tiempo, pioneered this change by updating her publication's guide to safeguarding immigrant sources before Donald Trump's second inauguration. Since then, many outlets have reviewed and strengthened their policies to ensure source protection.
The Miami Herald has also liberalized its policy, allowing more use of unnamed sources for crucial personal experiences. Meanwhile, Documented informs potential sources about potential responses from governments or the public. El Tiempo provides a fact sheet in English and Spanish, titled 'Talking to Journalists: What You Need to Know', to educate sources about their rights and the implications of speaking to reporters.
For a recent photo-essay, El Tiempo asked immigrants to pose with dry-erase boards describing their moods, a creative way to protect identities. The new policy at El Tiempo calls for identifying non-public figures by first name and last initial, and using pseudonyms when necessary.
While these measures provide reassurance, many immigrants remain reluctant to participate in newsgathering due to fear. However, some publications, like El Tiempo, continue to receive support and interaction from subjects despite the risks, indicating a growing trust in these protective measures.
