Off the Record: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

The use of this trope is close to [[Truth in Television]], but fiction works tend to treat these three words as a legally binding contract. In [[Real Life]], a journalist's code of ethics, and the code of the agency they work for, typically prevents them from revealing "off the record" sources and information, and any journalist that does reveal their confidential sources or information can easily find themselves [[George Jetson Job Security|without a job]]. However, those three words [[You Fail Law Forever|don't legally prevent]] the journalist from revealing anything, and "off the record" information is still commonly published, especially when the information is especially [[Ratings Stunt|revealing or damaging]]. In addition, a journalist is usually not considered to be under any obligation unless the "off the record" nature of the talk was agreed to beforehand. If someone [[Saying Too Much|says too much]] and then says "whoops, that was off the record" when he realizes his mistake, a good journalist may reply "I didn't agree to that."

Expect this trope to pop up predominantly in [[Detective Drama|crime dramas]], but may make its appearances any time detectives and/or reporters are involved.

 

 

== Film ==