media leak
Press learns secrets
A media leak is the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information to journalists or news outlets.
Leaks may come from whistleblowers exposing wrongdoing, disgruntled employees, or officials strategically releasing information while maintaining deniability: The investigation began after a media leak revealed the company's internal emails.
The term emphasizes the channel—information flowing to the press rather than becoming public through official statements or legal proceedings.
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- classified informationSensitive, access-restricted material
- national securitySafeguarding a country's interests
- sourcePoint of origin
anonymous · journalist · scoop · front page · confidential · expose · intelligence · documents · smoking gun · unnamed · tipster · brown envelope · breach · scandal · damage control · press · informant · revelation
media leakcover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
suppression · information blackout · media blackout · censorship · concealment
media, leak, medium, medial, median, mediate, mediation, mediator, multimedia