Our sources are often the hearts of our stories. Our conversations with them spotlight the real-world impact of an issue or provide valuable expert opinions about a topic. But why and how do we as journalists grapple with sharing ourselves with our sources? Do we have rules on how much we share? What’s too much or too little?
For instance, several months ago, I was working on a story about power of attorney over health for a publication, a topic that came from my own recent experiences dealing with the issue. When I was talking with doctors for the story, I explained how I came to write the story. But when I asked my questions, I was worried that perhaps the doctor might interpret some of these questions as fishing for medical advice rather than getting answers for the article. While I got the information I needed for the article, it made me consider this line between sources and journalists.
But on the other hand, sharing my opinions and articles with potential sources can be a way to build trust with certain niche
