confidential source
Secret information provider
A confidential source is someone who provides information—typically to journalists, law enforcement, or investigators—on condition that their identity not be revealed.
Protecting confidential sources is considered essential to investigative journalism; reporters may face legal pressure to reveal them but often refuse: The journalist went to jail rather than name her confidential source.
In law enforcement, the term overlaps with informant.
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- leakEscape through a breach
- news leakUnauthorized release to media
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- tipsterOne who shares predictions
anonymous · deep background · off the record · classified · classified information · intelligence · intelligence asset · insider · secret · need to know · mole · deep throat · handler · redacted · protected · witness protection · covert · undercover
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- confidentialsecret, private, classified, undisclosed, hush-hush
- insider infointel, insider tip, inside track, scoop, leak
- confidentialityNDA, non-disclosure, nondisclosure, confidentiality clause, confidentiality
- Informerssnitch, informer, informant, fink, squealer
- press freedomfreedom of the press, press freedom, media freedom, press rights, editorial freedom
confidential sourcepress secretary
Official media liaison
public relations officer · authorized representative · press office · formal announcement
confidential, confidence, confident, confidently, confide, confided, confiding, confidant, confidante