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Become a Source

If you are interested in sharing any information or documents, send an email to carlosBP@protonmail.com or a Signal message to Vaquero2XL.99 from a non-work device.

Why a non-work device? Because even if you are in possession of that device at all times, it does not belong to you. It belongs to your employer, who can probably access its content remotely or can ask you to return it at any time if they suspect you are doing anything unbecoming of your job duties. If you have googled something like "how to leak information" or "send secure message to journalist" on that device, you should consider whether you can – genuinely – share the information or documents you want to leak in a safe manner that minimizes risk to you.

If you want send a secure, encrypted message through Protonmail, you need to send it through a Protonmail account of your own. Signal, is an encrypted messaging app that you can download to your non-work computer or phone, to send secure messages.

Many of our articles have a note like the one below because we believe that any person can become a source of information that leads to meaningful and impactful reporting.

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Do you know something about TK? I would love to chat. From a non-work device, send an email to carlosBP@protonmail.com or a secure Signal message to @Vaquero2XL.99.

If you decide to become a source, we can negotiate whether you want to do it off the record, on background, or in the open. However, any of these terms must be agreed upon BEFORE the information is shared with the outlet because being on background or off the record is an agreement between the source and the reporter.

If you are a regular person, the barrier is much more flexible, but if you are a government official you better have a damn good reason to not want to be identified.

Here are a few descriptions of interview terms:

  1. Off the record: Whatever information you share will not be used for publication.
  2. On background: Information you share will not be specifically attributed to you by name.
  3. On background with no attribution: Information you share will not be specifically attribute to you by name or by your position. Common practice here is to say "according to a person with knowledge" or "this outlet has learned."
  4. In the open: Your name and position will be quoted in full within the text of the article. This identification can range varying degrees. For example, you can be identified only by your first name if we agree to it.