Spies, sources and secrets

At last the holidays are in sight. God knows, for most they can`t come soon enough.

With less than two weeks to go to my much-needed shutdown, I`ve spent the last few days reflecting on the stories we told. And those we thought were better left untold.

If you are in charge of your company`s communication efforts - or have taken time out of your busy management schedule for a little nostalgia - there are some lessons in these memories that could help you have a friendlier year in 2008.

I`ve been accused of many things this year, mostly because I`ve been party to information that certain people and companies would have preferred to keep under wraps. One company CEO even questioned the manner in which I got my information, and my ethics, despite confirming that the insight I had into a merger was true.

For this gentleman, and others who may have the same question, let me put your mind at ease. I take my job seriously, but I don`t take it seriously enough to camp outside people`s houses and riffle through their trash. I also have daily deadlines and a family so stalking is out of the question, quite simply due to time constraints.

So here`s the absolute truth: my information comes to me from your stakeholders. That means your partners, employees, customers and suppliers are willing to spill the beans when things are not going to their satisfaction.

I am no spook using the latest technology to access your confidential network. I`m just available to the one area you probably neglect most: people.

Commerce in SA follows its international counterparts: more is done under shady circumstances than we would like to believe.

Kimberly Guest, senior journalist, ITWeb

Another person - a communications executive at a large ICT company - rattled off his own journalistic pedigree before attacking me for using unnamed sources.

"I`m very disappointed in you, Kim," he said. "You are bringing down ITWeb`s good name. How do I even know that you didn`t just make up these sources? Besides if people aren`t willing to stand up for their thoughts then they should just shut the %#$* up!"

The man has a point: how does a reader know that a source actually exists? I guess my only answer to this is that a relationship of trust between publisher and reader builds up over time. I truly believe our readers are smart enough to pick up some editorial fandangling and take us to task. As journalists, we are constantly aware that your faith in us is the only thing that keeps us in business.

But what about his point on standing up or shutting up? We`re not in politics or at war, so why on earth would a person be scared enough of the repercussions to ask for anonymity?

A quick trip through my memory reminded me of a man who did stand up and pointed out what many in the industry were thinking at the time. Unfortunately, those he criticised had more power than he did. And from what I understand, he is still without a job.

How many of us are willing to take such a risk? And if we`re not, should we just let the under the table wheeling and dealing take place unabated?

Finally, you have the professional who is anonymous by trade or company mandate. These "sources" commonly work for organisations that trade in knowledge and insight, like investment analysts. If this knowledge is being broadly spread through the media, then the company has nothing left to sell to its customers.

That they speak to us (filthy journos) at all is a miracle, but we do try to bring you nuggets of insight that you might not be able to afford otherwise.

For me, this has been a year of finding out how industry actually works. Forget the business meetings and lengthy proposals; commerce in SA follows its international counterparts: more is done under shady circumstances than we would like to believe.

If you`re not convinced, then stop to consider how many companies could have competitor information they have no right to. Seen a person in your organisation get a promotion that probably should have gone to someone else? It`s happening everywhere with senior posts. Governments throughout the world have been caught being very naughty; what makes you think ours is any better, or worse, for that matter?

There are many more spies, sources and secrets out there just waiting for the right opportunity to reveal themselves. In fact, as long as people are involved in business and government, I will have a job.

The ITWeb team will keep chipping away at the secrets, backing up our sources and bringing you the best insight into what is really happening.