CONTACT A MINER DETAIL
Do have a fantastic Maryland politics scoop?
We’d love it if you share your scoop with us!
But first, it’s critically important to establish some ground rules before we begin our conversation immediately.
HOW TO TALK TO NEWS-GATHERING PROFESSIONALS
Please immediately establish if you are speaking with us [on the record], [off the record], or [on background].
The Associated Press’ rules when chatting with news-gathering professionals are below.
ON THE RECORD
The information you share with us may or will be used with no caveats. We’ll quote you verbatim and by name.
OFF THE RECORD
The information cannot be used for publication. Any information you share with us is taken to our graves, and none of it will be reported – unless otherwise directed.
*Don’t do this: After agreeing to go on the record with a reporter, please do not say that parts of the conversation were and now are off the record. A Miner Detail does not retroactively go off the record after a source agrees to speak on the record. This is a sure-fire way to irk a reporter.
ON BACKGROUND
The information you share can be published, but only under conditions negotiated up-front.
You may request your name be withheld from a story, but you must agree to a description of your professional credentials. Hence, the reader knows the information reported is credible and links to a credible source.
News-gathering professionals are not obliged to comply with your change-of-heart decision to shift to speaking to us off the record.
A Miner Detail prefers you speak/email with us on the record – but exceptions can be made, if necessary, to maintain your anonymity.
DEEP BACKGROUND
The information you share can be used – but without attribution. This means you don’t want to be identified in any way, even on the condition of anonymity.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you fail upfront to negotiate your speaking arrangement before sharing information with news-gathering professionals, said professionals should presume the conversation is [ON THE RECORD] and [REPORTABLE].
A MINER DETAILS PROTECT ITS SOURCES
A Miner Detail protects its sources’ privacy.
If you share information with A Miner Detail and request anonymity, we vow never to reveal your identity.
No hyperbole: A Miner Detail‘s news-gathering professionals would rather sit in a jail cell than be compelled by the government – or anybody else – to reveal a source.
For context, watch the following clip:
BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PRESS THE ‘RECORD’ BUTTON
In the state of Maryland, all parties to phone calls (and in-person conversations) must expressively consent to an audio recording of any kind.
If you intend to record a conversation with A Miner Detail’s news-gathering professionals, we respectfully request you inform said professionals up-front and immediately that you intend to record the conversation.
Should you decide to record the conversation without all-party consent, you may face civil and/or criminal penalties.
To learn more about audio recording phone conversations, please review this website.