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Category: PR Fundamentals

Off the Record

TL;DR: Information shared with a reporter that cannot be published, quoted, or attributed.

What is Off the Record?

Off the record means the information cannot be published, quoted, or attributed — it exists solely to inform the reporter's understanding. The agreement must be negotiated and accepted by the reporter before the information is shared; you cannot retroactively make something off the record after you say it. Even off-record conversations shape coverage, so treat them as carefully as any on-record interview. Crackle PR treats off-the-record conversations as high-trust exercises reserved for reporters our senior team has known for years — the risk of a misread agreement is too high for any other context.

Related terms

  • On the Record — Anything you say can be quoted by the reporter with full attribution to you by name and title.
  • On Background — Information a reporter can use, but only with a pre-agreed attribution like "a company spokesperson."
  • Media Training — Coaching executives to handle interviews, on-camera appearances, and high-stakes communications.