onessourcesinformation

Onessourcesinformation is a concept in information management and media studies that designates information that originates from a single identifiable source. The term emphasizes provenance and traceability, making the source explicit and auditable throughout dissemination channels. In practice, onessourcesinformation can apply to data sets, news reports, bibliographic records, or digital content that is produced from one core source rather than multiple origin records.

The term is a coined concept in contemporary discussions of data governance and journalism ethics, used to discuss when single-source information is appropriate and how to manage it.

Key features include clear attribution, a defined source lineage, and provenance metadata that remains linked to the original material. It supports reproducibility when the primary source can be consulted.

Applications include professional journalism that relies on a sole primary document, data dashboards that reflect one dataset, archival systems emphasizing source fidelity, and fact-checking workflows that trace claims back to one origin.

Benefits include easier verification, transparent audit trails, and reduced complexity in licensing and rights management. However, single-source information can entrench bias, suppress alternative perspectives, and pose a single point of failure if the source is altered or discredited.

Governance considerations involve documenting source metadata, controlling access, and applying standards for provenance, such as linking to the original work and recording versions.

See also: provenance, data provenance, source credibility, reproducibility.