confidential sources
Protected insider contacts
Confidential sources are people who provide information—typically to journalists, law enforcement, or researchers—on condition that their identity not be revealed.
Protecting confidential sources is considered essential to investigative journalism; without such protection, whistleblowers and insiders would fear retaliation: The reporter went to jail rather than reveal her confidential sources.
- undercover agentCovert infiltrator gathering intelligence
- investigative journalistReporter uncovering hidden truths
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- anonymous tipInformation from unnamed source
- informantOne who provides intelligence
leaked documents · press freedom · exposé · classified information · need to know · media ethics · compliance officer · tip · spy network · whisper · code · intelligence asset · legal privilege · lead · deep throat · back channel · secret meeting · file
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, state secret
- press freedomfreedom of the press, press freedom, media freedom, press rights, editorial freedom
- covert operationsundercover agents, covert ops, stings, infiltration, deep cover
- press credentialspress pass, press badge, press card, laminated card, access badge
- legal privilegesattorney-client privilege, privilege, privileged communication, legal privilege, spousal privilege
- trial evidencephysical evidence, documentary evidence, forensic evidence, witness testimony, exhibits
confidential sourcespublic testimony
Formal statement before audience
open hearings · press conferences · press releases · public records · sworn testimony
confidential sourcesofficial channels
Authorized pathways for requests
press secretaries · press office · corporate communications · public hearings · declassified documents
confidential, confidentially, confidentiality, confide, confided, confiding, confidence, confident, confidently