sources journalism Written by Florian Wintterlin Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE Encyclopedia of Journalism (2022) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Florian Wintterlin Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 23, 2026 •History Journalistic sources are defined as actors from whom journalists get information using newsgathering techniques such as interviews and observations. This information can include quotes, background information, story suggestions, or eyewitness accounts. Sources are therefore actors outside the news organization itself who provide information subsidies and can be actors who are interviewed by e-mail, in person, or by telephone, as well as documents containing relevant information. This entry discusses the types of sources and their use...

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