Had lunch today with another citizen journalist, a fellow regular on BeniciaNews.com. After the routine greeting, I asked whether he wanted an on-the-record or off-the-record meal?
Unlike me, he doesn't have a journalism background and was a little taken aback -- which I expected. I was having a little fun with him. But the question was serious, and I explained that in today's world of bloggers and citizen journalists -- where anyone can publish what another person says -- it's worth agreeing on the ground rules up front.
Neither of us wanted to worry that some off-hand remark might show up on the web, so we kept the conversation off the record. Now we just have to hope that the two women at the next table weren't taking notes.
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