Glossary
Off the record
An agreement between a journalist and a source that allows the source to share information that cannot be quoted, attributed, or used in reporting.
Common confusion: "off the record" specifically prohibits use of the information; "on background" allows use with no attribution ("officials said"); "deep background" allows use without attribution to even an unnamed group. Reporters and sources should agree on terms *before* the conversation, not after. Major outlets have explicit policies on what kinds of off-the-record agreements are permissible. The misuse of these conventions — especially after-the-fact "that was off the record" claims — is a routine source of conflict in political journalism.