Media Tip: How to Go "Off The Record"

[admin]

Media Tip: How to Go "Off The Record"
A guest post from Brad Phillips, author of The Media Training Bible.

Journalists don't really understand the phrase "off the record"-- or, more precisely, they can't agree on what it means. If you speak to 10 different journalists, you'll probably hear 10 different definitions.

In fact, one survey of five reporters from separate sections of The Washington Post found that each of the journalists defined "off the record" differently. Some thought it meant they couldn't ever use information they learned; others thought the information was fair game as long as they didn't identify their source. One of the reporters even admitted, "I have no idea what 'off the record' means."

If journalists themselves can't agree on the definition of "off the record," you shouldn't rely on the term to forge agreements with reporters. It's a meaningless expression. Banish it from your lexicon.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/ ... ecord.html