This master’s thesis examines how journalists make decisions regarding the concealment of an interviewee’s identity in television news reports. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the reasons interviewees give when requesting anonymity, the criteria journalists use when deciding whom to keep anonymous, and the role of the editor in this process. In the theoretical section, I first defined the standard for verifying information, described the channels through which journalists gather information, and listed the types of information sources. I reviewed the literature on the importance of confidentiality between journalists and interviewees and the significance of concealing sources in television reports. By reviewing three news programs on Televizija Slovenija (Dnevnik, Koda, Tednik) during the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025, I compiled a list of journalists who used anonymous sources. I then conducted ten semi-structured interviews with seven journalists and three editors to determine how they handle situations where a source wishes to remain anonymous. The analysis showed that journalists most often protect the identity of their sources when they want to safeguard them. Their goal is to present the source’s story to the public, but they do not promise confidentiality to just anyone; valid reasons are required. The editor is also involved in the decision-making process. Since there are no uniform rules regarding how journalists should act in the described cases that would aid in decision-making, I have written a draft set of guidelines in the concluding section that could assist journalists in making decisions when sources request that their identities be concealed.
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