Off the Record — Definition
Off the record is an information-sharing agreement between a source and journalist where the information provided cannot be published, quoted, or attributed — used to provide context or background.
What Is Off the Record?
Off the record is a negotiated information-sharing agreement between a source and a journalist in which the information provided cannot be published, quoted, or attributed to the source in any form. It is used — carefully — to provide journalists with context, background, or to steer them away from a false narrative, but it carries significant risk if the agreement is not explicitly established before speaking.
A government communications director says to a trusted reporter: 'Let me give you this off the record so you understand the full picture — the minister is not resigning; what is actually happening is a cabinet reshuffle being announced on Thursday.' The reporter cannot print this, but it prevents them from running a misleading resignation story and positions them to cover the real announcement accurately.
Off the record is one of the most misunderstood and misused tools in media relations. It is not a casual label applied retroactively ('that was off the record, by the way'), nor is it universally honored by all journalists. Executives who understand the protocol — agree the terms first, use it sparingly, never use it to hide wrongdoing — gain a channel for influencing coverage. Those who do not understand it create their own crises.
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