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September 7, 2005
On and Off the Record
Believe it or not, I have taken on-line classes although the format is quite different from blogging. Anyway, one thing both have in common is that if you post something "dumb" or ask a particularly dumb question, it's right there in black and white. Which leads me to my next thought--comments on and off the record. Perhaps at times it's up to the reporter to ask, "Can I quote you?" In the process of an interview the person being interviewed might not think to say, "This is off the record."
Posted by NancyGregg at September 7, 2005 3:24 PM
Comments
Dr. Jerz actually said in class, that that's how its supposed to go:
Reporter: is this on or off the record?
Interviewee: off the record
Reporter stops writing and listens.
Posted by: Lou Gagliardi at September 7, 2005 10:14 PM
Nancy, when you're dealing with a professional whose job involves working with the public, you and the professional can probably assume that anything that's said is on the record (unless someone says otherwise).
When dealing with a private citizen -- someone who happened to witness a crime, or somebody griping about a family member or complaining about a neighbor -- I'd say the reporter should be very clear and upfront about using direct quotes.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at September 9, 2005 3:00 PM
Agreed, Dr. Jerz.
It's also important to ask when you can go back on the record when you think the subject has changed.
When I interview someone who wants to go off the record, I tend to ask them as soon as possible (i.e. immediately after the juicy tidbit they don't want to share), when we can go back on the record.
Posted by: Amanda at September 12, 2005 8:59 AM