Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This survey of 63 investigative reporting journalists highlights the various ways they use home addresses in public service reporting. Most use home addresses for fact checking and verifying sources. As well, 54% said they never, and 43% said they rarely, publish or broadcast those details. This preliminary study’s results provide important context in the current debate over how much personally identifiable information is released in government documents and data through public record laws. As legislatures and courts consider restrictions on the release of home addresses to protect people from doxing, harassment, and other harms, these findings indicate a need for caution and the inclusion of journalists in the discussion, based on the public value of home addresses in journalistic reporting.
Source: The Journal of Civic Information
Author: Jodie Gil
Institution: Southern Connecticut State University
Language: English
Topic: Journalism and Media Studies
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405236414