What makes a strong tip
- Documents beat descriptions. A single invoice, screenshot, or email thread is worth more than pages of narrative.
- Context helps. Tell us what we are looking at, where it came from, and who else can verify it.
- Original files are best. Forwarded copies lose metadata that helps us verify authenticity.
How to reach us
Email
tips@watchdogjournal.com
Suitable for non-sensitive tips. Assume email is not private: do not use a work account, and do not use this channel if being identified would put you at risk.
Maximum caution
For highly sensitive material, contact us over the Tor Browser from a device and network not associated with you — ideally using Tails. Establish contact first with a short message; do not attach documents in your first message.
Protecting yourself
- Do not contact us from a work device, work network, or work account. Employers can log all of it.
- Do not tell anyone you are talking to us — the smallest circle is the safest circle.
- Be aware that printed documents and some files carry hidden identifying marks or metadata. Tell us if you are unsure; do not try to strip metadata yourself if you don't know how.
- If you might be one of only a few people with access to a document, tell us — that changes how (and whether) we can use it.
Honest limits: no channel is perfectly secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute anonymity against every adversary. What we can guarantee is our policy: we never publish a source's identity without consent, and we treat source protection as more important than any single story.
What happens next
A reporter reviews every submission. We may reply to ask questions or request verification, but we cannot respond to everything, and silence does not mean your tip was ignored. If your material becomes part of a published investigation, it will be handled under the standards described in our methodology.