There will be times when a journalist might feel the need to write under a false name. Here we look at the reasons for doing so, and the risks and benefits.
There is a byline to this piece. It’s Zoran Restak. But that’s not my real name. It’s a pseudonym which I have been forced to use to protect my sources, my family, myself – and my journalism.
For many years, I wrote using my real name. But as I began to specialise in areas of investigative journalism that challenged the powerful, I realised that I needed to conceal my real identity the more active I became. Investigative journalism comes with risk, especially if you uncover information that was previously unknown and which speaks truth to power.
Journalists sometimes use a pseudonym when publishing under their real name could put them, their sources, or their families in danger. This is a common practice when reporting on corruption, organised crime, war, or governments that punish critical reporting.
The reality on the ground
The stories I’ve uncovered in the last two years are deeply moving, grounded, and far from the reach of mainstream journalists because the sources I’ve tapped into barely trust outside media. I am choosing not to get into specifics, but I want to speak generally to these experiences.
The first time I reached out to a source, my instincts told me that using my real name would not only jeopardise my own safety, but equally risk theirs and that of their families. These stories highlighted the inhumane treatment of common people due to enhanced government immigration policies.
A false byline can help lower the risk, but it’s not a safety plan on its own. It only works when combined with careful reporting, strong digital security, and support from editors.
Note for freelancers
If you’re a freelancer, keep in mind that it is extremely difficult to get a piece published in mainstream media if you can’t convince the editor why a pseudonym is needed.
Why journalists use a pseudonym
Most journalists who use a pseudonym do so for one reason: safety.
A reporter investigating corruption might face threats from powerful people trying to stop the story. Journalists covering organised crime can become targets after exposing criminal groups. In my case, if my real identity were to be exposed, I could be forced to reveal the specifics of my sources, with a very real chance of ending up behind bars.
My sources are outside the borders of the country I am currently in. They are far beyond the reach of the government, yet I remain an easy target. This is because my findings expose the government’s ill-treatment of these individuals.
In countries where the media is tightly controlled, reporters might be watched, detained, or attacked for their work. Some leave their country but continue reporting from abroad; using their real name could put relatives or former colleagues back home at risk. Local reporters may also choose a pseudonym when covering armed groups, religious extremism, or powerful local figures in places where everyone knows who they are.
Why this matters
For some journalists, a pseudonym is not a stylistic choice. It is a safety measure. Exposure can mean prison, violence, or danger to sources, family, or former colleagues back home.
When to use a false name
A pseudonym should only be used after carefully weighing the risks. The first question is whether the story can be published safely under the reporter’s real name. If the answer is no, the reporter and editor should decide whether a pseudonym will reduce the danger enough to allow the reporting to continue.
If you’re a freelancer like me, who doesn’t belong to a newsroom, bringing an editor on board to accept a pseudonym is not easy. In many newsrooms editors try to avoid using pseudonyms because it raises questions aboout whether a story is fabricated.
Sometimes the risk is simply too great. In those cases, delaying or stopping the reporting may be the safest choice. Using a pseudonym also means giving up public recognition. The goal is no longer to build a public profile; it is to get an important story into the public domain while keeping the reporter safe.
Worth considering
A pseudonym is a last resort, not a first choice. Weigh it only once real-name publication looks too risky. And be ready for the trade-off: no byline recognition, in exchange for getting the story out safely.
Choosing a pseudonym
Choose a name that fits naturally in the country or community where the story is published. There might be exceptions: if you could be recognised too easily because of a unique background, it’s completely understandable to pick a pseudonym that doesn’t connect naturally. Avoid names that belong to real people, as this can create confusion – and could put them in danger.
Once you choose a pseudonym, keep using it. Don’t switch between different names or biographies. Consistency helps protect both your work and your credibility.
I’ve built a portfolio under a single pseudonym. This is advantageous because a new editor I work with can review my previous body of work and immediately see that I am a serious reporter, not someone trying this for the first time.
Keep your identities separate
Your real identity and your pseudonym should never overlap.
- Digital safety: If possible, use a separate computer or a secure virtual machine for work done under the pseudonym. Use a different email account and avoid mixing browser profiles, cloud storage, or phone numbers with your personal accounts.
- Freelancer vulnerability: If you live in a country with a reputation for cracking down heavily on journalists, keeping your work hidden through all digital means is critical. This is a particular challenge for freelance journalists who are not attached to one particular newsroom and lack a legal defence team.
- Erase metadata: Before sending documents, photos, or video, remove any metadata that could reveal where they were created or what device was used.
Protecting your communications
It’s often easy to trace people through their connections. If you are sloppy with your communications you put yourself and those you are working with at risk.
- Talk to editors and sources through trusted encrypted services whenever possible.
- Do not discuss sensitive reporting through unsecured messaging apps or on shared devices.
- Agree in advance with your editor on how documents will be shared and what to do if an account or device is compromised.
Make sure you do the groundwork needed to protect the new identity you are creating. At times it might sound as if you are being paranoid. You are not – you are being realistic in an increasingly surveilled society.
Work closely with your editor
Your editor should always know your real identity. They need this information to confirm your reporting, assess legal risk, and support you if problems arise. If legal advice is needed before publication, the newsroom should handle your identity carefully and limit access strictly to those who need to know.
Follow the same standards
A pseudonym does not change the rules of journalism. Every fact still needs to be checked. Every source still needs to be verified. Every story should meet the exact same ethical standards as one published under a real name. Some news organisations add a short editor’s note explaining that a pseudonym was used because publishing the reporter’s name would create a safety risk.
Know the limits
A pseudonym can reduce risk, but it cannot guarantee anonymity. A reporter’s identity can still be uncovered through digital records, writing style, leaked documents, or mistakes made online. Sometimes the greatest risk comes from people who already know the reporter, not from the byline. If threats continue to grow, a pseudonym may no longer provide enough protection, and editors and reporters must review whether it is safe to continue reporting.
The personal cost
Writing under another name can be difficult. Journalists are often unable to tell friends what they are working on, share their stories on personal social media, or receive public credit for their reporting. Over time, this can lead to stress, anxiety, and isolation. Newsrooms should recognise these pressures and make sure reporters have regular contact, practical support, and access to help when they need it.
Once a piece has been published I often head off into the wilds for a hike or engage myself in other therapeutic activities such as meditation. Such activities help protect my own mental health. I do this because writing under a pseudonym is stressful. The people around you don’t know it’s you who is writing the material. And you are always on your guard not to let your security slip. This can lead to a sense of isolation. So it’s extremely important for those of us writing anonymously to protect our mental wellbeing.
Media Helping Media has an entire section of articles about how journalists can manage stress and trauma in their work, in their lives, and in the lives of those they are dealing with.
Good practice checklist
If you plan to publish under a pseudonym:
- Carry out a risk assessment with your editor before reporting.
- Learn digital security before publishing sensitive work.
- Keep your real identity and your pseudonym completely separate.
- Agree on an emergency plan in case your identity is exposed.
- Report with the same care, fairness, and accuracy expected of every journalist.
A pseudonym is one tool for reducing risk. It works best when combined with careful reporting, strong security, and close support from editors.
The bottom line
A pseudonym is not a shortcut and not a disguise for weak journalism. It’s a safety tool, used only when the story matters enough to justify the risk, and only alongside real security, editorial support, and an exit plan if things go wrong. Used properly, it lets a reporter do the work that needs doing without paying for it with their liberty or their life.
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