When an off-the-record source dies

Ryan Chittum of the Columbia Journalism Review explores the case of The Wall Street Journal and Fortune using off-the-record comments about CEO Steve Jobs’ health by an Apple board member who has died since making those comments.

Chittum writes, “This raises several questions. First, why did Fortune sit on this string for ten months if the off-the-record agreement was mooted by York’s death?

“Second, who didn’t have York as an off-the-record source?

“Third, how common is it to burn dead sources? We now have the Journal and Fortune, apparently, burning the same guy. That raises the question of whether York agreed to allow the information out after he died, though that seems very unlikely (I’ve got a question out to Fortune and will update with any response).

“Fourth, would this have happened with another company? I’ve noticed how Apple makes the press forget its cherished ideals and standards in pursuit of rumor and speculation?

“Most important, is it ethical to burn a dead source because they’re dead?”

Read more here.