Definition of cover story

cover storynoun

câu chuyện trang bìa

/ˈkʌvə stɔːri//ˈkʌvər stɔːri/

The term "cover story" originally referred to a magazine's content featured on the cover page, designed to grab the reader's attention and entice them to buy the issue. But in the 1940s, the term took on a new meaning in the world of espionage and journalism. As intelligence agencies realized the importance of misinformation and deception during times of war, they began using deceptive stories to throw off their enemies' suspicions. Journalists, too, started using what today is known as a "cover story" to hide their true intentions or activities, such as undercover investigations. The term "cover story" gained wider recognition during the Cold War, with both sides of the conflict using it to deceive and confuse enemies. While today's cover stories are less about national security and more about protecting private interests, they serve a similar purpose of concealing the truth and misleading others. In journalism, a cover story can refer to a feature story that appears on the cover of a magazine, but it also has a more specific meaning: an explanation given to mask a person's real motives or reasons for doing something. Examples include when a politician offers a plausible explanation for a vote or when an author gives a seemingly harmless explanation for a recent trip abroad. In summary, the term "cover story" has evolved from its original meaning, but its core idea of concealment and deception remains the same, and is still relevant in today's media and society.

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the main story in a magazine that goes with the picture shown on the front cover

câu chuyện chính trong một tạp chí đi kèm với hình ảnh hiển thị trên trang bìa

Example:
  • The magazine chose the peace process as its cover story.

    Tạp chí đã chọn tiến trình hòa bình làm câu chuyện trang bìa.

a story that is invented in order to hide something, especially a person’s identity or their reasons for doing something

một câu chuyện được bịa ra để che giấu điều gì đó, đặc biệt là danh tính của một người hoặc lý do họ làm điều gì đó

Example:
  • The guard believed her cover story.

    Người bảo vệ tin vào câu chuyện ngụy tạo của cô.