The Anatomy of Leaking in the Age of Megaleaks

Abstract

This paper examines the anatomy of leaking in the age of megaleaks based on a series of reconstruction interviews with 108 Israeli reporters, who recreated a sample of leaked versus non-leaked items (N = 845). Data show that leaking remains a journalistic routine, encompassing one in six items; however, they cease to be the sole game of senior sources, involving substantially more non-seniors. Despite new technologies and the mounting number of channels that enable their exposure, leaks remain an oral practice, exchanged mainly over the telephone. On the journalists’ end, there is little change: leaks are the prerogative of more senior and experienced reporters in print and television news; they are still accompanied by more sources, more cross-checking and more consultation with editors than regular items. These findings concur with theories that perceive the relationship between megaleaks and traditional leaks as co-existing rather than disruptive.

Keywords:

• journalism
• leaks
• megaleaks
• news practices
• sources
• technology
• whistleblowing
• WikiLeaks

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Yifat Naim, Yigal Godler and Inbal Avraham for their assistance in data collection and Tali Avishay-Arbel for her statistical advice.

Notes

1. Comparison across time focused on print newspapers—the only media studied in all three periods.