Glossary
What is a primary source?
A primary source is the place a claim is first made by someone accountable for it: a founder on a podcast, an engineer’s conference talk, a project’s own release notes. Coverage of that claim is a secondary source.
Updated 19 September 2026
What counts as a primary source in business?
The first accountable statement of a claim: a founder or executive speaking on a podcast or a stage, an engineer’s talk, a company’s own blog, a project’s release notes, a regulator’s published notice. What they share is a name attached and a place you can link to.
Why does the distinction matter?
Because every retelling loses something. A news item about a founder’s interview keeps the headline and drops the conditions she attached to it. Going back to the primary source recovers what was actually said, in what context and how confidently — and lets someone else check your reading.
Is a primary source always right?
No. It is the most direct evidence of what someone said, not of whether it is true. Founders are optimistic about their own roadmaps. A primary source tells you who is accountable for a claim; agreement from independent sources, and the changelog, tell you how far to trust it.