News organizations depend on informed sources to uncover stories that shape public understanding of technology and its consequences. Among these outlets, The Verge has built a reputation for in-depth coverage ranging from consumer gadgets to corporate power dynamics and government regulation. Central to this reporting are the tips sent by readers, industry insiders, and whistleblowers who risk their own security to reveal hidden truths. This guide explains the preferred methods for contacting The Verge editorial team, with clear instructions for maintaining privacy and encrypting communications.
Why Tips Matter
Investigative journalism often begins with a single piece of information that challenges the official narrative. Whether it involves a major product recall, a security vulnerability, or unethical business practices, these leads require a platform that can verify and contextualize them. The Verge actively encourages tips about companies shaping modern life, regulators influencing environmental and tech policies, and stories illustrating technology’s human impact. Firsthand experience or documentary evidence—such as internal memos, emails, photographs, or recordings—carries more weight than speculation. If you have encountered something that the public should know about, the editorial team wants to hear from you.
Secure Communication Methods
When contacting The Verge, privacy is paramount. The outlet has designed its tip submission process to minimize third-party tracking and protect sources from retaliation. The two primary channels are email and Signal, both of which support encryption when configured correctly. Below we break down each method and the security measures you should adopt before reaching out.
Email: The Simple Channel
For most tipsters, email remains the most direct route. The general tips address is tips@theverge.com and the company notes that this page is served over HTTPS without third-party analytics or ad trackers, in accordance with best practices recommended by the Freedom of the Press Foundation. However, standard email is not encrypted. To ensure confidentiality, sources should avoid using work email accounts or devices connected to their employer’s network. Even personal accounts may be vulnerable to surveillance if they rely on mainstream providers like Gmail or Outlook. For heightened security, consider using a secure email service such as ProtonMail or Tutanota, which offer end-to-end encryption for messages to other users on the same platform. Alternatively, you can encrypt your email manually using PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) if the recipient publishes a public key—though The Verge does not publicly list a PGP key for the general tips address, so for maximum protection Signal is recommended.
Regardless of the method, never use work Wi-Fi or a work phone when sending a tip. If you are at risk of reprisals, it is safer to compose the message from a public computer or a personal device connected to a trusted VPN and a network that cannot be traced back to your employer. Also, avoid including identifying details in the subject line or body unless absolutely necessary. An email with no names, only the evidence, can be opened securely by an editor who may then follow up using an encrypted channel.
Signal: Encrypted Messaging
Signal is widely considered the gold standard for secure communication among journalists and sources. The app encrypts all text messages, voice calls, and file transfers, and its open-source code has been audited by security experts. Signal stores your phone number and the timestamp of your last app usage on its servers, but it does not log who you communicate with, how long conversations last, or the content of your messages. For tipsters, this means a high degree of anonymity—provided you take additional precautions.
To use Signal for tipping The Verge, start by downloading the app from the official website or your device’s app store. Avoid installing it on a work phone; instead, use a dedicated burner phone or at least a personal device that has no connection to your employer. When setting up Signal, you will need to provide a phone number. If you wish to remain fully anonymous, consider purchasing a prepaid SIM card with cash and activating it without registering your name. Once Signal is installed, you can find the Signal accounts of individual Verge staffers by visiting their author pages on the staff list. If you know the specific reporter covering your area of concern, that may be the best approach. Otherwise, you can send a tip to the general editorial accounts if they have made them available.
Depending on your version of Signal, you may need to add the recipient’s phone number as a contact before you can start a conversation. This step is straightforward: simply create a new contact entry with the number. Once the conversation has begun, you can delete that contact from your phone’s address book without affecting the chat. This reduces the digital footprint on your device. The Freedom of the Press Foundation offers detailed guidelines for locking down Signal even further: disable disappearing messages for sensitive documents you want the reporter to retain, but consider using disappearing messages for discussions after the evidence is shared to minimize metadata trails. Also, set Signal to require a screen lock and enable registration lock to prevent someone from hijacking your account if they steal your phone.
Understanding Metadata & Risks
Even encrypted communications leave some traces. Email headers reveal sender and recipient IP addresses unless routed through a VPN or Tor. Signal reduces metadata but still knows which phone numbers are registered and when they last connected. If you are a high-risk source—such as a government whistleblower or an employee of a company under regulatory scrutiny—you should treat every communication as potentially monitored. Using Tails (a live operating system) on a public computer, connecting via Tor, and never reusing pseudonyms are practices that hardened investigative journalists employ. The Verge editors are aware of these concerns and have designed their tip page to operate without tracking scripts, but the responsibility for operational security lies with the source. Always think about the worst-case scenario: if your identity were exposed, what consequences would you face? Plan accordingly.
Staff Contacts & Specialty Coverage
The Verge maintains a publicly accessible staff list with author pages that include email addresses and Signal numbers for many reporters. This is useful if your tip relates to a specific beat: for example, policy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or hardware reviews. Contacting the right editor directly can speed up the review process. However, if your information is highly sensitive or potentially explosive, it may be better to send it to the general tips address and let the newsroom assign it internally. That approach distributes the risk because no single reporter knows you are coming.
If you are still unsure, consider using SecureDrop, a platform adopted by many news organizations for anonymous document submission. As of the time of writing, The Verge does not publicly advertise a SecureDrop instance, but Signal fulfills a similar purpose when used correctly. Always check the outlet’s most current security page because protocols evolve.
What Happens After You Submit
Once a tip reaches the editorial team, editors will assess its credibility and newsworthiness. They may reach out for clarification using the same encrypted channel you provided. Do not expect an immediate response; investigative reporting takes time, and verification often involves multiple sources. If your tip leads to a story, the outlet will protect your identity unless you consent to be named. In some cases, you may be quoted anonymously if the information is verified through other means. The Verge, like most reputable outlets, has a strict policy against retribution against sources and will work with legal counsel if a company attempts to intimidate a tipster.
In accordance with best practices set by the Freedom of the Press Foundation, this guide itself is hosted without third-party analytics or ad trackers. The page you are reading is served over HTTPS, and no external scripts compromise your privacy while you consume this information.
If you have a story that demands public attention, do not hesitate. Choose your communication method wisely, follow the security steps outlined above, and help illuminate the intersection of technology and society. The Verge editorial team stands ready to receive your information, armed with the tools and experience to handle it responsibly.
Source: The Verge News