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Off the Record: Should I do it?

2/5/2015

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Have you ever had the opportunity to go off-the-record? A common question in my seminars: "Is there really such a thing?"

The safest answer is no. However, some "media savvy" people have had success when going off-the-record. They were able to supply reporters with credible information without being quoted. This helped them establish credibility among media representatives.

To be successful when going off-the-record, I recommend that you ask yourself the following questions:
  • Do you trust the reporter?
  • Do you want the information to be made public?
  • Do you have a clear understanding of what the reporter means and does the reporter have a clear understanding of what you mean by off-the-record? For example:
    1. Giving the reporter background that is not to be used in the story.
    2. Giving the reporter background to be used in the story, but not attributed to you.
  • Did the reporter agree before you made your statement that you are off-the-record?
  • Can you be sure that your colleagues, competitors or the target of the story won't guess that you are the confidential source?
  • Will going off-the-record serve a purpose for you or your industry?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no" then it's not a good idea to go off-the-record. It's not worth the risk.

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    My goal is for these articles to offer some "street smarts" based on what it's really like out there doing speaking engagements, being interviewed by the media and conducting campaigns.  Your opinions are welcome! - Al

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