What Does source of information Mean
The notion of source comes from the Latin word fontis . Although the term has several meanings, in this case we are interested in its meaning as the origin or sustenance of something . Information , on the other hand, is news or content that allows the recipient to acquire certain knowledge.
The idea of information source , in this framework, refers to the individual or the material that provides data of interest . In the context of journalism and the investigative field, a source is specifically the one or that which provides information .
The work of a journalist requires contact with sources of information that allow them to obtain the necessary data for the development of an article , a report , etc. Generally speaking, a journalist is expected to consult at least three different sources of information before publishing a story : if three reliable sources corroborate the veracity of a piece of information, it is unlikely that such information is wrong or false. On the other hand, if a single source provides the information, there is a greater risk of error.
A primary source of information provides first-hand material (is the protagonist or witness of the events). A secondary source , on the other hand, takes and reproduces the information provided by a primary source. Information sources, on the other hand, can be oral, written or otherwise, depending on how the data is transmitted .
Protecting the identity of a source of information is very important for the journalist: the press worker in many cases undertakes not to disclose the name of the source of the information to prevent this person from suffering some kind of persecution or reprisal. In turn, when the source of information remains anonymous, it becomes impossible to verify the veracity of what it expresses.
The latter happens very often on the Internet when a rumor spreads, both one that has the intention of revealing confidential information harmful to its protagonists and one that simply discloses certain data that would have been published sooner or later. When the source of information is anonymous, some of those who receive the message lose interest instantly, because they only believe in what they "can see and touch." A second portion of the public is hesitant but contemplates the possibility that the rumor is legitimate, while the rest of the public do not care about anonymity.
In some Internet forums , the moderators are personally in charge of verifying the identity of those users who wish to publish rumors without disclosing their first and last names. According to the rules, they have the obligation to certify their personal data, including the name of the company they work for (which is usually the site from which the confidential data originates) and the position they occupy there. Only when the moderators complete this procedure allow them to write the news and connect with the rest of the users.
In certain settings, these kinds of information sources are especially common and generate considerable commotion. For example, in the world of video games, several conventions are held throughout the year, in different parts of the world, but none is as important as E3 , the electronic entertainment exhibition , which takes place in Los Angeles in June. and concentrates the largest number of revealing news from the most relevant companies worldwide. As these dates approach, the player forums become veritable nests of rumors .
The search for a source of information is learned in primary school, from the first time that teachers tell us to investigate a certain topic to prepare a document as a summary, for example.