Here’s the Most Misunderstood Phrase in Journalism
Why founders and investors should never say it, and here's what to say instead!
I was talking with an investor recently when they casually said, “Off the record.” The subject was something personal—nothing I’d publish anyway—but the phrase stuck with me.
Off the record.
Those three words are among the most overused and misunderstood statements people say to journalists. I hear it often in media training sessions, so let’s set the record straight on what it actually means, and here’s why you should probably never say it.
The Danger of Not Understanding It
A quick story.
When I was an editor, a reporter on my team wrote a feature about an emerging venture fund. During the interview, a relatively inexperienced GP shared some high-level performance metrics, which we published. Shortly after, the GP freaked out.
They called me, livid. I have no doubt they were in trouble with their LPs or advisors and were trying to save face. “That was off the record!” they insisted. They demanded a correction, wanted the reporter sanctioned and even threatened to use their connections to ensure no one ever spoke to us again.
But here’s the thing: The reporter never agreed to an off the record conversation. The GP had blurted out something they probably shouldn’t have and assumed that simply saying the phrase—after the fact—gave them an automatic shield. It doesn’t work that way.
The moment you meet a journalist, assume you are on the record. At all times. Everything you say is fair game unless an explicit agreement is made beforehand.
What Does “Off the Record” Actually Mean?
In business journalism—the kind that covers startups, VCs, tech deals and related stories—“off the record” means that what you say cannot be published or used in any form. I’m not sure why any reporter would agree to that. But for it to hold, the journalist must agree to it first. You can’t just declare it after saying something sensitive. If you say something and then try to make it off the record, it’s too late.
That said, not all journalism works the same way. Political, sports and entertainment media may have different norms. Some news organizations, particularly in politics, allow for more frequent off the record conversations, while others spell out strict rules on when and how their reporters can use anonymous sources. But in business journalism, the safest assumption is always:
✅ You’re on the record unless explicitly agreed otherwise.
In reality, asking to go off the record is often a pointless request. If you truly don’t want something published, just don’t say it.
Better Alternatives
If you need to speak with a journalist without full attribution, learn these phrases:
“On background” is when the journalist can use the info but can’t attribute it directly to a source. This is useful for confirming details about a deal or a trend without quoting a person by name.
“Not for attribution” is when the journalist can quote you word for word, but instead of inserting a name, they’ll use a general descriptor like “a source familiar with the matter.”
The “Chatham House Rule” is common at industry events and means information can be reported, but without identifying the speaker. This encourages open discussions among attendees and speakers while still allowing journalists to cover key takeaways from the event.
These options actually work and are far better than blindly saying off the record.
Just Assume You’re On the Record
Even casual conversations can be fair game unless specifically clarified otherwise.
When I was a young reporter at the Silicon Valley Business Journal in the 1990s, I attended a luncheon where an investor from Kleiner Perkins cracked a joke about Steve Jobs returning to Apple. It made the table laugh. At the time, I was under orders to bring back tidbits from events, so I included the joke in our paper’s Gossip column.
The VC was not happy. But there was no misunderstanding. I was a journalist, and they knew it.
✅ Here’s the vital takeaway: Journalists are not PR agents. We are there to report, not protect you.
When in Doubt, Keep Quiet
So my final thought: If you’re unsure, ask the journalist before speaking freely.
And if you don’t want something published, then don’t say it.
Have you ever had an “off the record” moment go wrong? Ping me. I’d love to hear about it!
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