What is cover story? How to use in English

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.