An Anonymous Source Goes Public

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4 • 102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2023

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault. It’s been more than five years since the #MeToo movement, driven by reporting at publications like The New York Times, toppled powerful and abusive men. Behind that essential journalism were sources, many anonymous, who took enormous risks to expose harassment and sexual violence. Today, Rachel Abrams, a producer and reporter at The Times, speaks to Ali Diercks, a lawyer who provided crucial information for a major #MeToo story. Ms. Diercks has waived her anonymity to discuss the costs of her coming forward and what she thinks about her decision years later. Guest: Rachel Abrams, a senior producer and reporter for “The New York Times Presents” documentary series.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Are you worried about repercussions coming from this interview today?
0:06.1	Oh, I am terrified.
0:09.4	Absolutely terrified.
0:12.0	Not necessarily that individual people will be upset with me, but I'm very, very, very
0:18.5	worried about the law firm continuing to come after me because it's one thing to take
0:27.7	your looks, accept your punishment, and disappear.
0:30.8	And it's entirely another thing to come back and stand up and talk about it.
0:38.4	From The New York Times, I'm Sabrina Tavarnisi, and this is The Daily.
0:43.9	It's been more than five years since the Me Too movement changed the world, toppling
0:47.5	powerful and abusive men.
0:50.0	That moment was driven by reporting at places like The New York Times.
0:55.4	Many stories were sources, many of whom were anonymous, who took enormous risks to expose
1:01.1	wrongdoing and harassment and sexual violence.
1:05.9	Today, the key anonymous source behind a major story is disclosing her identity for the
1:11.8	first time.
1:13.7	My colleague, Rachel Abrams, is going to tell her story.
1:22.5	It's Thursday, May 18th.
1:29.2	Ali Dirk's has described herself to me as a quote, unremarkable person.
1:34.2	Ali grew up in a small town in Indiana, with a Midwestern aversion to acting big-headed.
1:39.6	When you talk to her, she frequently apologizes for things before she even says them, or
1:44.2	declares what she's about to say cringe-worthy.
1:47.1	It can sometimes feel like she's afraid of taking up too much room in the world.
	...

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