Spike (journalism)
In journalistic parlance, spiking refers to withholding a story from publication, ostensibly for reasons pertaining to its veracity (whether or not it conforms to the facts), but sometimes as censorship for not satisfying a political narrative the media entity is pushing (or obliged to conform to) as an ulterior agenda.
Etymology
The term "spike" received widespread public recognition following the 1980 publication of the spy-thriller novel The Spike.
Catch and kill
To "catch and kill" (a story) is the practice in which a media entity, usually a tabloid, enters into contract with a source (of a typically salacious bit of gossip involving a politician, entertainer, or other high-profile figure), in which in exchange for compensation, the source signs a non-disclosure agreement forbearing their speaking of the subject to competing media. The tabloid then refrains from running the story, and the source is legally muzzled.
See also
External links
- Harold Evans, memoirs of the future: The Spike, Mr Bow-Tie and other Fleet Street legends. The Times Literary Supplement,September 16, 2009.
