Realizing that her angry comments were picked up by the camera, she returned to her seat and admonished the reporter, saying whatever had been overheard after she abruptly ended the interview would be off–the–record.
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Fat chance. Congresswoman McKinney has been in the public domain long enough to know the rules. You don’t make them up as you go along, especially after you’ve misspoken.
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The Media Trainers® Re–winder Reminder:

• Off–the–record can be rugged terrain. It’s especially treacherous if you weave on and off the record during the course of an interview. Inevitably, the reporter will make a mistake.
• Unless you and a reporter have developed a level of trust over time, you’re better off sticking strictly with what you can say on–the–record.
• Establish the rules ahead of time and make sure you both understand exactly what is for public consumption and what is reserved as background.

The Media Trainers®, LLC, has a Tough Questions eBook on our Web site that you can download free for easy reference.