From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Spike (journalism)
Spike (journalism)
In journalistic parlance, spiking refers to withholding a per’s publisher - if, for example, it concerns a company
story from publication for reasons pertaining to its ve- with whom the publisher has a close relationship. This is
racity (whether or not it conforms to the facts). Spiking more likely at a local level, where small newspapers are
is relatively rare and usually happens late in the editing dependent on advertising revenue from businesses such
process (after the assigning editor has signed off on it). It as estate agents and recruitment agencies.
is only required when a simple edit or questioning the re- Stories are spiked for other reasons, but in any case,
porter or assigning editor cannot fix the problem. the decision is not taken lightly, as a valid, usually de-
Reasons for spiking include a clear bias (someone on tailed explanation will be solicited by those further up
an opposing side of an issue did not respond, despite the the chain of command, often at the behest of the re-
fact that said response is central to the story), a major porter.
hole (many, if not most, readers will have a question after
reading the story) or a sudden change in events (three
more people have died, but getting details from officials
External links
is impossible on deadline). • Harold Evans, memoirs of the future: The Spike, Mr
In some cases, a story may be spiked if it is deemed Bow-Tie and other Fleet Street legends. The Times
to conflict with the commercial interests of the newspa- Literary Supplement,September 16, 2009.
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Categories:
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