Other Definitions
off the record (dict)
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Off The RecordOff the record is a term used mainly in journalism to refer to information given to a journalist, where the identity of the source is to be protected, but the information can be used. However, some journalists use the term to mean that the information cannot be used. Communications between a news source and a journalist can be qualified as especially sensitive via a number of conventional terms, which are not used consistently and therefore lead to confusion. In order of level of confidentiality, these terms are: - on the record: the information can be used and the source can be named and quoted;
- not for attribution: the information can be used but the source must not be quoted;
- off the record: for some journalists, this means the same as "not for attribution," but others use it to mean the information may not be used, and the source must be protected;
- background: may mean that the information should not be used at all, and the source protected;
- deep background: most journalists would agree this means the information can only be used to enhance the way a journalist views an issue, but must never be referred to; even the fact that a source has spoken about the issue would not be revealed except to the editor-in-chief and the news organization's lawyers.
Some journalists regard information obtained off the record as useful in helping them find additional leads, a suggestion for further research, or a hint about an upcoming surprise event or announcement that the reporter can prepare for. This is also known as a "tip-off". When a tip-off leads to the uncovering of breaking news, it is usually acceptable for the reporter to acknowledge receiving a tip-off from an anonymous source, occasionally also mentioning the affiliation of the source, such as "a government source". However, some journalists will not accept information "off the record" as they feel it compromises them, or may be intended to mislead them or their news organization. In some cases, an unrestricted communication between a source and a reporter may be partially off the record. In this case, most of the conversation may be repeated (or treated under one of the other pre-arranged terms), but the portions indicated as off the record may not be repeated or alluded to. Because off-the-record material can be valuable, it is important for sources to make clear in advance or as early as possible that a communication or part of a communication is off the record. This is especially true in the age of light-speed communications, when there may be little time to declare a part of a conversation as off the record after the fact, before the content is distributed (such as over the Internet). Reporters may also be eager to use material that was not specified as off the record. George Freeman, attorney for the New York Times told the American Journalism Review that he's "never quite figured out" the differences between terms like "background" and "off the record." "I tell reporters if they really want the source to understand, make it clear. But those words generally cause more confusion than anything else." http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=1621
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