Off the Record: Should I do it?

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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