A short whistle-blower is someone who reports illegal or unethical activities within an organization. They are often referred to as a 'whistle-blower' because they blow the whistle on the wrongdoings of their employer. The term 'short whistle-blower' is used to describe someone who is not employed by the organization they are reporting on, but instead has knowledge of the wrongdoing from another source. This type of whistle-blower is usually anonymous and may be more difficult to identify than an employee whistle-blower.