This explanation seems a bit unclear as I re-read it. People like press secretaries often talk on background. The ground rules for this are usually that the information can be used but it cannot be attributed to that person. You are free to find another source for the quote or to use the information to ask better questions of someone else.
Dana On 7/13/05, Dana <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ::taking a look at what you said::: > > Right. "background" is telling, with the understanding that you will > not publish it as an interview with the source. So yes he would have > needed to be released from this ethically, but no he was not burning > anyone by revealing the information. > > The "off the record" you see in media depictions never happens in real > life, because why would you agree to something being off the record. > It means you can't publish it ever. > > Dana > > > On 7/13/05, William Bowen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > So I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me or not... > > > > > nope off the record means you can't publish it, ever, therefore nobody > > > ever agrees to this. > > > > "Nobody" meaning a reporter? So then the defense "it was off the > > record" is still meaningless, right? > > > > > "Background" means not for attribution. If I were > > > an editor and a reporter told me something was on double secret > > > background I'd interpret this as meaning that the info was fair game > > > > Okay, so telling a reporter a classified piece of information is still > > telling, and if that is a crime, then the teller is guilty. No ifs > > ands or buts... > > > > > but that it could not be attributed even to "a source familiar with > > > the investigation" or a "senior government official." In other words, > > > you have a story but still have to document it or report it as rumor. > > > > so no attribution, which goes back to the whole protection of > > whistleblowers thing... > > > > oi... > > > > -- > > will > > > > > > "If my life weren't funny, it would just be true; > > and that would just be unacceptable." > > - Carrie Fisher > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Purchase Studio MX from House of Fusion, a Macromedia Authorized Affiliate and support the CF community. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=50 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:164653 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
