Palmer says after a decade of research, she's concluded social media has dramatically shifted the consequences for people who go public with a story. Palmer says if journalists discuss ahead of time the potential impact of the interview, rather than dissuade people from going on the record, it prepares them for what may come next. She points to the women who've come forward in recent weeks to make public allegations of sexual assault and harassment against powerful men. "If they're prepared for cyber blowback, they feel like they're more in control of the situation, and that's very helpful," she says. "Journalists can emphasize to sources the public good of what they do when they come forward and tell stories about systematic patterns of abuse.

Source: CBC News December 16, 2017 14:02 UTC