The Benefits of Speaking Openly to the Press in Politics
Key Highlights :
In an ideal world, everyone would feel confident and happy to speak to the press openly and voice their concerns. Politicians often want to talk to reporters in order to highlight an issue and potentially influence a situation for the better. It is best practice to use multiple anonymous sources in order to verify the accuracy of the information given. However, there are times when politicians may prefer to speak off the record, due to fear of punishment by party bosses. This can lead to problems building over time and can be a salutary lesson to all political parties of what can happen when parliamentarians, councillors, activists and members are not allowed to speak out.
The Associated Press has established a protocol that in rare cases, one source can be sufficient when the material comes from an authoritative figure who provides information so detailed that there is no question of its accuracy. It is important for journalists to not reveal who they have spoken to off the record when asking for a response from a third party.
Speaking openly to the press can be beneficial for all those involved. It can help the public gain a better understanding of an issue, and can also help the politician, political party and journalist achieve the best outcome for all concerned. It can help prevent major errors from occurring and can help the politician get their point across to a wide audience.
However, it is important to note that in some cases, speaking openly to the press can lead to punishment. Hard-working constituency MSPs and MPs can easily find themselves on the wrong side of party bosses by speaking out when they believe things are not as they should be. Talented and ambitious politicians may find themselves overlooked for ministerial roles, or even deselected for their seat ahead of an election.
Overall, speaking openly to the press can be beneficial in politics, but it is important to be aware of the potential consequences. It is also important to follow the protocol established by the Associated Press when it comes to using anonymous sources in a news story.
