Just 28% of Americans say it is ethical for reporters to publish news stories based upon anonymous sources. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll of 1,000 adults found that 45% disagree and say the use of unnamed sources is unethical.

Americans under 40 are more likely to find this journalistic practice acceptable than their elders, but a plurality of younger adults still finds the use of anonymous sources unethical.

The public judgment is even harsher for reporters who publish classified information obtained from an anonymous source. By a three-to-one margin (63% to 21%) American adults believe that publishing such information should be illegal. Women are more likely than men to hold this view.

These findings come at a time when I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby is on trial for perjury and obstructing justice in a case growing out of the Valerie Plame incident. No one is on trial directly for leaking the identity of Plame, a CIA operative.

The trial itself has failed to capture the public imagination. Just 17% say they’re following the story Very Closely. Another 22% say Somewhat Closely.

Libby is viewed favorably by 24% of Americans and unfavorably by 37%. As you would expect, perceptions of Libby vary significantly across party lines. Among Republicans, 36% have a favorable opinion of Vice-President Cheney’s former Chief of Staff. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the GOP faithful have an unfavorable view.

Among Democrats the numbers are far more negative—14% favorable and 50% unfavorable.

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