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Rules of the Game
Rich Galen Wednesday October 26, 2005
The Annual Mullings subscription drive is still going on. Even though it seems as if it started six months ago, it really only began on October 14th, so we're just about at the half-way mark.
I'll wait while you click on the link to subscribe�
Dump, dump, dah-dee-dah; dump, dump, dah-dee-dah. These little town blues, are melting away, I want to yum, dee, dah, dee, dah - New York, Neeeeewwwww York!
Done? Good. Thanks.
The latest on the New York Times v. Judith Miller is that everyone's writing something if only to keep the story on a slow simmer in case the special prosecutor actually drops the linguini in the pot and it has to come to a boil in time for the early editions.
Dear Mr. Mullings
Two things:
1. We are sick and tired of this story which is only interesting - or decipherable - to those of you in Washington, DC.
2. Of all the dreadful metaphors with which you have burdened us over the years, that simmering-boiling-linguini baloney takes the cake.
Signed,
The National Analogy, Metaphor and Simile Police.
Yeah, well, that baloney taking the cake thing isn't making the Pulitzer Prize Committee ask for additional copies of this column, either.
However, while we're just standing around watching the water boil, this might be a good day to go over the ground rules surrounding discussions between sources and reporters.
The three major distinctions are: "On the record;" "off the record;" and "on background."
On the record means exactly what it appears to mean. I might be identified as the "Grand Poobah of Mullings.com and an apologist for Republican causes for over four decades" so that a reader (or viewer or listener) would better understand how to put my comments into a proper context.
"On background" means my words can be quoted, but they will be attributed to (in my case) "a Republican strategist" or (in the case of the NY Times) "lawyers involved in the case" without giving any further hints as to a particular person's identity.
Some reporters also allow "deep background" which would mean I would only be identified as "a source." Matt Cooper referred in his notes to Karl Rove as having received information on "double super secret background" which apparently means the source can only be identified to a federal grand jury or on the pages of Time Magazine.
"Off the record" means you may not use what I say, or even that I said anything at all, in any way. You can't refer to it or use it in your story. There is some dispute as to whether "off the record" still gives you the right to shop for the information from someone else, but that should be negotiated between the source and the reporter.
Here's an important teaching point: Just because I, as the source, say something is "off the record" or "on background" doesn't mean it is. The reporter has to agree to the terms of the deal - including how I will be identified - BEFORE I open my big yap and give away the family secrets.
Asking that something be on background or off the record AFTER you've already said it is almost always accompanied by much groveling, pleading, promises of future exclusive nuggets of information and/or, if the source is cute - like me - tears.
Most Washington-types will not engage in this kind of thing with out-of-town reporters who may or may not (a) know the rules or (b) adhere to the rules if they do know them.
Those of us who work in Washington paint on a pretty broad palette of mutual trust. Reporters who break that trust have a tough time getting their calls returned. Sources who don't play fair, don't get called in the first place.
Dear Mr. Mullings:
Upon further review, we would rather have suffered through another confusing piece on Judith Miller and the New York Times.
Signed,
The New York Times
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On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: The complete lyrics to "New York, New York, a short discussion of metaphors, similes and analogies; a palm-sweating Mullfoto and a Catchy Caption of the Day.
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Copyright © 2005 Richard A. Galen
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