You could try Tails OS [1]. It is specifically designed for anonymity and privacy, and can be booted from a usb stick to avoid leaving any saved state. There is a recent feature summary at [2] and an older, journalism-focussed article at [3].

[1] https://tails.net/

[2] https://dev.to/aniruddhaadak/tails-os-a-security-focused-pri...

[3] https://freedom.press/issues/help-support-the-little-known-p...

I'll just add, it's pretty easy to use

The best private operating system for journalists is the "Olivetti Lettera 22" [1].

* Cross-Platform

* Multi-Language

* Offline

* Room Protection

For extra security, you can use an external data disposal tool [2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivetti_Lettera_22

[2] https://geekyget.com/products/hand-shredder/

Have you checked out NONOS? It ticks all those boxes. Runs on RAM, written in a "safe" language (RUST), does not log usage and uses encrypted networking. https://nonos.systems/

From what I know, most modern devices have hardware backdoors, and most TOR nodes are compromised. If you're working on a sensitive story, you'd likely need to physically remove access to internet, bluetooth or any other signal, and not bring any other devices to that place.

I think you should to use the fedora linux,in my aspect of view its totally secure and private.

I think you could use a ubuntu live without persistence on a usb key : everything runs on RAM and is deleted when you turn off the host computer

Sounds risky to potentially lose your work

Qubes

https://www.qubes-os.org/downloads/

Everything is its own VM, you can run apps in secure environments and when you close them it get rid of them.

You can even create networking VM's have that connected to a VPN and then make your other VMs go through it for a secure connection. There is a lot you can do with it for privacy.

Also in windows pro you have windows sandbox, when you close the sandbox everything is deleted. It is a tool lots of people don't know Microsoft offers and it is a sandbox, I use it for testing all the time.

Like Tails OS?