In Latin is where the etymological origin of the term corroborate is found. Specifically, it derives from the verb “corroborare”, which can be translated as “to force something”. It is a word that is the result of the sum of several components of said language:
-The prefix “co-“, which means “together” or “everything”.
-The noun “robur”, which is synonymous with “red oak”.
-The suffix “-ar”, which is the ending used to shape verbs.
The concept is used to refer to what a person does when, by providing more information or new reasoning, they give more strength to an opinion or an argument.
According to abbreviationfinder.org, the notion is usually linked to the action of proving something through different kinds of evidence. When an event is accredited, demonstrated or justified through various data or judgments, it can be corroborated.
For example: “The police are waiting for the judge’s order to enter the home and check if the suspect is still in the place”, “I need to check certain data before publishing the article”, “The investigators intend to check when the event happened ”.
In the field of journalism, it is considered necessary to consult at least three sources to corroborate information. This means that if three different people say the same thing about an event, the risk of publishing inaccurate data is reduced. On the other hand, if the information is presented from the statements of a single individual, it is more likely that what is published is not accurate or even misleading.
Sources are one of the main working instruments of journalists. Hence, these should give them the security and certainty that they are not lying to them. For this reason, it is important that they always corroborate them, however, when these sources always give them reliable news, they will make them a great pillar for their work. And it is that they will trust them to be able to access more information or to be able to contrast data that reaches them from other parts.
In the same way, it is necessary for the journalist to take care of his sources and, above all, not to reveal them. And it is that, in many cases, they are usually people who occupy certain relevant positions or who have positions where they access a lot of information. For this reason, it is necessary that they do not bring them to light because if they did they would not only put them in a complicated position, which could even make them lose their position, but also the transfer of information that they grant would end.
In many contexts it is necessary to corroborate a thought, a hypothesis or an idea before making a decision. Suppose a man wants to hire an architect to build his new house. Before hiring him, he decides to visit several constructions made by the architect in question and consult other clients to corroborate his professionalism. With these certainties, the person can decide with greater security since he has a background that justifies the hiring.
