Using these unnamed sources, if done properly, carefully and fairly, provides more accountability in government.

Woodward’s remark defends the journalistic practice of granting anonymity to sources—especially in national-security or high-stakes political reporting—when it is handled with rigorous verification and fairness. The quote argues that anonymity can paradoxically increase public accountability: officials who would not speak on the record may still reveal misconduct, internal deliberations, or factual corrections, allowing the press to scrutinize power. The caveat “if done properly, carefully and fairly” is central, implying that unnamed sourcing is ethically acceptable only when reporters corroborate claims, assess motives, and avoid letting anonymity become a shield for rumor, manipulation, or partisan leaking.