They left out the practice of newspapers using terms like 'unnamed official close to': > An official close to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said ...

They left out the practice of newspapers using terms like 'unnamed official close to': > An official close to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said .... "This is not an easy report" for the Clinton administration, said another senior U.S. official last night. - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/eafricabombing/stories/security010899.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/eafricab... > A law enforcement official close to the case said prosecutors considered charging several ­Fokker employees but decided against it. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dutch-aerospace-company-fokker-hit-with-21-million-fine-in-sanctions-case/2014/06/05/c2890542-ecbd-11e3-b98c-72cef4a00499_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dutch... > The decision -- which was also met with wariness on Capitol Hill -- reflects a desire to change the intelligence power structure, officials close to the selection said yesterday. -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/05/AR2009010503050.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01... These are often cases where the government is trying to control what you think; perhaps because the unnamed official will be retaliated against for not toeing the government line, but also because it's exchanging anonymous influence for access. A newspaper could decline these unnamed sources a platform for their anonymous influence, but then the reporters will find they don't get the juicy interviews.