Death knock

How it is used

A newsroom expression, especially in Britain; use sensitivity and avoid assuming relatives wish to speak.

Example sentences

1. The reporter discussed the death knock with her editor before contacting the family.

   The term names a difficult reporting assignment involving recently bereaved people.

2. After the death knock, he wrote down the family's request not to be contacted again.

   A refusal or request for space must shape subsequent reporting conduct.

Common collocations

• conduct a death knock
• prepare for a death knock
• death knock assignment

Related terms

• interviewA meeting or conversation in which a journalist asks someone questions to get information, opinions or quotes for a story or programme; also the published or broadcast result.
• public interestThe benefit of society as a whole, used to judge whether publishing information, especially private or secret information, is justified.

More terms: Interviews and Quotes

• quote
• off the record
• on the record
• on background
• vox pop
• interviewee
• transcript
• no comment
• quote approval
• quote mining
• pre-interview
• doorstepping