🔴 On the record: Everything can be quoted and attributed verbatim.
→ We generally recommend against, for the protection of your members.
This may be okay if the journalist won’t take on background and you’re fairly sure the engagement is going to be net positive, but this is a hard bar to clear, and we recommend talking to Kairos or others first: you typically want to make sure that you yourself will be a very reliable narrator for the points that you want to hit and that the journalist will be trustworthy enough for the engagement.
🟠 (Recommended) On background: Information can be used, but not directly attributed by name.
→ Note this is ambiguous: reporters may interpret differently, ranging from “only used to inform the piece” to “can quote, but anonymously.” Clarify explicitly upfront!
🟡 Off the record: Reporter cannot print or repeat details you have shared with them off-the-record.
→ Note this must be agreed in advance — no guarantee for reporters to strike from the record post-hoc.
We recommend that groups default to on-background calls, and follow these up with a written statement, peer-reviewed by at least one other person before sending.
→ Statements should be written carefully — isolated sentences should still read well in context!