Twitter doesn't leak off the record comments, people do

There’s no such thing as ‘off the record’ with Twitter.”
– Lost Remote*

I don’t know if Cory Bergman is serious about that statement or using it for a clever headline, but he’s wrong. That’s like saying “There’s no such thing as ‘off the record’ with notebooks.” Or typewriters. Or computers. Or vocal chords.

Twitter is a tool for journalism. When you’re a journalist acting in said capacity, you’re operating under the same set of ethics as when you’re in the newsroom, on the phone with a source or in any of other traditional setting.

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2 thoughts on “Twitter doesn't leak off the record comments, people do

  1. I disagree. Writing something in a notebook, kept private, is one thing. Writing something you know will go into the public domain is another.

    If I were to skywrite, “I'm a dork,” everyone should take that as fact because it was submitted to public domain under no uncertain terms.

    Twitter is fair game under any circumstances.

  2. Perhaps I should have said That's like saying “There's no such thing as 'off the record' with televisions, microphones or satellite trucks.” All of these are tools for broadcasting one-to-many, just like Twitter. Just because the barrier to entry is lower with Twitter doesn't mean ethics don't still apply.

    Also, the news that you are a dork has been a part of the public record for a long time now.

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