quellentreue

Quellentreue, sometimes written as Quellentreue in German, is a principle in scholarship and journalism that refers to fidelity to sources in the presentation of information. The term denotes the obligation to reproduce sources accurately and with transparent attribution, including faithful quotation, accurate paraphrase, and preservation of context.

The concept spans several interrelated practices. It involves exact quotation or faithful paraphrase, precise transmission of facts, figures, and claims, and clear indication of any interpretive or editorial additions. It also emphasizes thorough documentation of sources to allow verification, replication, or critical review. Quellentreue is commonly discussed alongside related ideas such as Quellenkritik (source criticism) and provenance, and is addressed in fields including history, literary studies, journalism, and digital humanities.

In practice, quellentreue requires avoiding omission of contrary details, refraining from misrepresenting a source’s position, and providing proper citations. It also entails acknowledging the limitations and biases of sources, and, where translations are involved, noting translation choices and editorial interventions that affect meaning. Ethically, the principle supports transparent handling of material and helps maintain trust in scholarly and journalistic work.

Debates about quellentreue center on balancing fidelity with interpretive analysis. Some scholars argue that strict adherence to wording can impede translation or critical interpretation, while proponents view it as essential for integrity, accountability, and reproducibility. The term commonly informs editorial guidelines, academic training, and media ethics discussions, and it is frequently contrasted with practices that prioritize narrative emphasis or selective quoting over faithful representation.