Onthewire

Onthewire is a term, primarily used in journalism and information technology, referring to content distributed in real time through wire services or data feeds. It is not a single organization or product but rather a descriptive label for material that is transmitted to multiple outlets or systems simultaneously and rapidly.

Origin and usage: The phrase derives from the historical practice of telegram and teleprinter wire services that pushed news items to many subscribers. In newsrooms, stories labeled as on the wire indicate they are sourced from a wire service or are syndicating content to partner outlets. As digital distribution expanded, onthewire has broadened to cover real-time feeds and APIs that publish breaking updates, stock quotes, weather information, and security advisories.

In practice: Journalists may use the term to distinguish between locally reported material and wire-provided content. In information technology contexts, onthewire describes data streams delivered over network protocols designed for low-latency dissemination, such as push feeds, RSS-like syndication, or message queues. The concept emphasizes speed, breadth of distribution, and the potential for uniform coverage across platforms.

See also: Wire service, Newswire, Real-time data feed, Syndication.