Media Training: 'Off the Record' Warning, Part 2--It's Not Just for Interviews

Having a "There-is-no-off-the-record" (TINOTR) mindset is helpful not just when dealing with the news media. It should also apply to anything you say or write that might be of interest to the media.

Take the case of Michael T. Eckhart, president of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE). Mr. Eckhart sent a letter to Marlo Lewis, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). Here is part of what he wrote:

Take this warning from me, Marlo. It is my intention to destroy your career as a liar...

If you produce one more editorial against climate change, I will launch a campaign against your professional integrity. I will call you a liar and charlatan to the Harvard community, of which you and I are members. I will call you out as a man who has been bought by Corporate America. Go ahead, guy. Take me on.

As you might infer, Mr. Eckhart

does not agree with Dr. Lewis on the issue of climate change.

Surprisingly, the letter ended up being published in the Washington Times. Surprising to Mr. Eckhart, at least. In his public apology, Mr Eckhart pointed out that "[the letter] was not intended for public display."

Hello! Reality check. You write a letter threatening to destroy the recipient's reputation, a letter filled with memorable sound bites, and it never occurred to you that Dr. Lewis might release it to the media?

The Lesson: Whenever you write a letter, email, or report on a controversial issue of public interest, especially if your writing contains interesting quotes, assume you are also writing to the public. Because the chances are high your communication will be loaned or leaked to the news media.

There is NO off the record.

Comments

[Lou Hampton]

Bob,
Thanks for your comment and the link to the full 1,752-word, two-year history.
The thought that immediately springs to mind is Hamlet's mother's oft misquoted line, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

[Bob]

To get an idea of how insane this issue is, check out the 1,752-word comment -- which I later turned into a stand-alone post -- received from Eckhart's communications folks regarding a post on my blog about his spat/threat against Dr. Marlo Lewis.

Click on my name as it appears below this comment to read the post. -- Bob