There are different types of background interviews – from highly official to extremely confidential. It is therefore important to agree before the interview on the publication or confidentiality level to which the content of the interview is subject. It should be noted that not everyone understands the technical terms we use in the same way.

Unless an exception has been expressly agreed, our sources speak ‘on the record’. This means that their statements can be used with their name and position mentioned.

If the source wishes and there are plausible reasons, it is possible to speak to them ‘off the record’ in exceptional cases (see 9.7 Assurance of anonymity): the content of their statements will be published, but their name will not be mentioned and their position will only be described in summary form (e.g. ‘a senior official at the Department of Justice’).

The third possible option is a confidential background interview, which is conducted ‘strictly off the record’ or ‘on background’. The statements made are used exclusively as background information for journalists. They are not quoted either directly or indirectly and are therefore not used publicly.

If a source is used ‘off the record’, managers may request disclosure in order to assess the authenticity of the information.

Anyone who knowingly speaks to journalists in a professional context and without express reservation is making a public statement. This means that this person cannot subsequently withdraw the entire content of a conversation. This applies in particular to media-savvy individuals. Journalists may quote these individuals in indirect speech (see 6.5 Withdrawal of interviews).

The rule of the best argument applies to quotes: the arguments that are most important from the interviewee’s point of view must be used.