Off-the-record comments are supposed to remain strictly between the source and the reporter. If the reporter agrees to an off-the-record request, the ethical thing to do is not report or even repeat that information. The source then can decide whether or not they want to share that information. A source should ask a reporter first if something can be off the record.
Just because a source says something is “off the record” does not mean it truly is “off the record.” The common belief among many is that when a source tells a reporter something “off the record” that means the reporter cannot or should not publicly share that information.
So well known, in fact, that even those outside the business are familiar with it.
