An agreement between a journalist and source that information provided will not be published or attributed to the source in any way.
When information is given off the record, journalists cannot use it in their reporting, though they may use it to guide their investigation or seek confirmation from other sources.
This arrangement requires clear agreement from both parties before information is shared. Off the record differs from “on background” or “not for attribution,” where information can be used but not attributed to the specific source. Journalists must honor off-the-record agreements to maintain source relationships and professional credibility. However, some news organizations have policies limiting when reporters can accept off-the-record information.
