Can you just say off the record?

The generally accepted rule is that off the record and on background must be invoked in advance. So if, for example, George W. Bush says to you, “Let’s go off the record here—I really did make up all that stuff about WMD in Iraq,” you can’t quote him on that.

How do I make sure something is off the record?

While it means what you say cannot be published or attributed to you, don’t throw caution to the wind just because you’ve used it. To establish that something is “off the record”, you and a reporter must both agree to the terms before you share any sensitive information that you don’t want quoted.

Can I record a conversation in my house?

Federal Recording Laws and Your Right to Privacy Under federal law, you have a “reasonable expectation of privacy” in your home. However, this law allows for one-party consent. This means one of the people involved in a conversation can give permission for everyone else to be recorded, even in your own home.

What should I not tell a journalist?

5 things NOT to say to a journalist

• “No comment.” Never say “no comment.” Even if you don’t have anything you can share, explain why you’re not able to share much now.
• Don’t repeat negative words or statements.
• Providing personal opinions.
• “Can we keep this off the record?” Unfortunately, it’s not always a real thing.

What does speaking off the record mean?

phrase. If something that you say is off the record, you do not intend it to be considered as official, or published with your name attached to it. May I speak off the record?

What does held off the record mean?

Off the record is a phrase used in journalism. In law it means a court reporter is not present.

What does off the charts mean?

off the charts, greatly exceeding the general level or average: Demand for the new phone is off the charts. Also off the chart .

What are the rules for going off the record in court?

There are no rules. And there is no such thing as off the record if you’re talking to a journalist. If you are in court and the judge wants to go off the record it is usually to discuss a fairly small detail that hopefully has no bearing on the substance of the case.

Do the rules of off the record apply to emails?

Yes, the rules of off the record apply to email as well I suppose, but it does not come up as often as it would in a spoken interview since sources would rarely want to leave an electronic paper trail of information they consider sensitive enough to give “off the record.”

What does “off the record” mean?

As a person who has frequently been a source, “off the record” means, as others have said, that the information can be used by the journalist to confirm to herself she is right about something, or to lead in useful areas, but can’t be attributed to the source.

When to use off the record and on background statements?

The generally accepted rule is that off the record and on background must be invoked in advance. So if, for example, George W. Bush says to you, “Let’s go off the record here—I really did make up all that stuff about WMD in Iraq,” you can’t quote him on that.