When the average reader sees that the government has refused to comment, but that an anonymous insider source has provided information, they think that the government refusal is because of concerns over giving information to the enemy, and that the anonymous source is probably thoroughly vetted by the journalist and therefore accurate. In reality, when an anonymous source is a high ranking official this is generally seen by journalists as an indication that what they are saying is accurate – but it could just as well mean that they are giving the information which their government has told them to give.
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