Letter from Top News Outlets Protesting Off-The-Record Talks Sent to 600 Press Secretaries

By: Joe Strupp A joint letter from a group of news outlets and journalism organizations -- ranging from The New York Times to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press -- is being sent today to some 600 press secretaries urging them to stop the practice of off-the-record public speeches or briefings.

An announcement from the Sunshine in Government Initiative, which is coordinating the protest, states that the letter is an effort to stop the talks that often limit how reporters can attribute information.

"Many Congressional staff members and mid-level administration officials, regardless of party affiliations, have been increasingly wary of speaking on the record in recent years and, as a result, begin their public speeches by telling the audience that their remarks are all 'off the record,'" the announcement said.

Added Rick Blum, coordinator of the Sunshine in Government Initiative: "In today's age of Twitter and blogs, an 'off-the-record' speech will be publicized, just not by reporters. It just doesn't make sense anymore and the practice should stop."

The letter, sent to some 600 press secretaries today -- most in Washington, D.C and including White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs -- stated, in part: "Unfortunately, the practice of granting 'background' or 'off-the-record' status to officials' comments has gradually expanded over the years to a point where many public officials see no problem with telling large audiences that their speeches are also off the record. After canceling a speech in January 2009 at a Midwestern university when a student newspaper objected to her off-the-record terms, a government official said such a practice is common practice in Washington and she has 'spoken widely off-the-record and it has been respected.'"

The entire letter is below. NOTE: An earlier version of this article referred in places to "briefings" being the prime source of concern. That is one aspect but public speeches were the main focus of the letter.

****************************

Memo to Press Secretaries of Congress and the Executive Branch

Re: Keeping public Speeches "on the record"

In the spirit of greater transparency for government activities, a goal that we in the media applaud, we would like to encourage you to address a common source of friction between reporters and the public officials they cover - off-the-record comments at public meetings.

This practice primarily involves Congressional and federal agency staff members, who frequently offer insight into policy deliberations at widely attended events such as conferences, but either refuse to allow reporters to use the information or insist that they not be named in news stories.

As reporters, we frequently allow administration officials and congressional staff aides to speak on "background" or "off the record" in our private conversations, but those agreements are made selectively in one-one-one situations in an effort to encourage officials to be more forthcoming. Presentations at public meetings by their nature do not involve classified information or other information that must be withheld from the public.

Unfortunately, the practice of granting "background" or "off-the-record" status to officials' comments has gradually expanded over the years to a point where many public officials see no problem with telling large audiences that their speeches are also off the record. After canceling a speech in January 2009 at a Midwestern university when a student newspaper objected to her off-the-record terms, a government official said such a practice is common practice in Washington and she has "spoken widely off-the-record and it has been respected."

Another example - commonplace for many Washington reporters - occurred recently when two high-level Hill staffers told an audience of 300 people that they would be speaking off the record.

On a few occasions, Obama administration officials also have gone the off-the-record route at public meetings.

Unfortunately, many congressional offices, committees, and federal agencies follow this policy, prohibiting their staff members or officials from speaking on the record, even when their remarks are delivered to a large audience to which the press has been invited.

This practice disadvantages the press and the public in favor of special audiences who are not bound by the attribution rules. Sometimes these events are webcast, and many non-press professionals use their own e-mail news updates, blogs, and even "tweets" to pass along tips they hear about policy direction. They may not feel the same obligation to honor an off-the-record request as professional journalists.

Despite this inequity, many reporters in such situations have honored the declarations that the remarks are off the record.

To address this longstanding problem, we ask that government officials, including congressional staff members and federal agency representatives, start treating their comments at widely attended events as on the record.

Keeping public remarks by officials at all levels in the government on the record will greatly improve transparency and accountability for taxpayers.

Sincerely,

American Society of News Editors
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
Daily Press Gallery of Congress Standing Committee of Correspondents
New York Times
Newspaper Association of America
Periodical Press Gallery of Congress Executive Committee
Radio-Television News Directors Association
Radio-Television Correspondents' Association
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Society of Professional Journalists
Tax Analysts
U.S. News & World Report