Off the record. On background. Anonymous source. Under embargo. Often, these terms mean different things to different people – which is why it’s so easy to get burned when you think you’re telling a reporter something “off the record.” You also have to be prepared for the journalist to use such information accidentally – or even intentionally.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s possible to go “off the record” with a reporter you trust and emerge unscathed. But there are many potential pitfalls.

Click the ‘Play’ button below to listen to this edition of MediaSmart, on which we address the notion of going “off the record,” and whether there really is such a thing.

Read more:

* What Does ‘Off the Record’ Really Mean? – PRNewswire.com

* What ‘off the record’ means and how to use it: A cheat sheet – mashable.com

* Why speaking to journalists ‘off the record’ doesn’t guarantee anonymity – The Guardian

* Questions to Ask Before Going ‘Off the Record’ – Poynter.org (considerations from a journalist’s perspective)