A Times investigation discovered today that a journalist at The Telegraph, /u/Friedmanite19, routinely offers substantial sums of money to whistleblowers in order to receive confidential leaks.

The investigation revealed that in two instances The Telegraph was prepared to offer sums of up to £45,000 to Labour MPs in exchange for privileged information from within Labour headquarters.

In journalism it is generally seen as at best bad practice, and at worst extremely unethical, to offer money for information. This is for a variety of reasons, not least of which is to avoid accusations of bribery and the contamination of information should the matter ever reach a courtroom. Furthermore, paying for information may result in a scenario where the informer will provide information they think the journalist wants to receive, instead of providing leaks in good faith.

After receiving evidence of one offer of payment for information, The Times engaged Labour MP /u/rexrex600 to help with the investigation. During the course of a conversation with /u/Friedmanite19, /u/rexrex600 was almost immediately offered £25,000 for information on a non-existent vote of no confidence in the Labour leader. /u/Friedmanite19 then upped his offer to £40,000 “if [the leak] is good”, before settling on £45,000. When /u/rexrex600 added more flesh to the bones of his ‘scoop’, /u/friedmanite19 said it “sounds like I’m getting my money’s worth”.

This further highlights the trap of offering money for information, because at this juncture this Labour MP would be incentivised to embellish and perhaps even to mislead the journalist in order to receive a substantial monetary reward, therefore corrupting any public interest justification for publishing the leak. Whether or not an organisation that offers money for information would then conduct due diligence on any leaks is unclear.

This investigation shines a light on The Telegraph’s recent media activities, having received a substantial leak themselves yesterday in order to break a story around a Labour Party discipline inquiry. Senior sources within the Labour Party suspect that an as-yet-unidentified Labour member was persuaded with money by The Telegraph to leak information about the inquiry.

The Times contacted /u/Friedmanite19 to ask him what he makes of the result of the investigation, and he immediately dismissed the allegation as “irrelevant”.

Update (12.11pm):

The Telegraph refused to comment on this report.