Leaders back caution call on off-the-record interviews

Two prominent political leaders have backed calls for public officials to be more careful in media interviews.

However, they are also warning that a court decision allowing off-the-record conversations to be used as evidence has put the trust between journalists and politicians at serious risk.

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry and Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube both weighed in on Information Minister Lynda Tabuya’s warning that Members of Parliament and public officials must exercise greater caution when speaking to the media.

Mr Narube said he fully agreed with Ms Tabuya’s caution but warned that the ruling had damaged something important.

“There’s no more going to be any trust when a reporter says off-the-record,” Mr Narube said.

He advised all officials and politicians to stop relying on off-the-record conversations altogether.

“I would ask them to be cautious and even do not take that as a way of giving your opinion. Just talk on the record,” Mr Narube said.

Mr Narube believes the ruling should be appealed.

“If Government has the capacity to appeal, I would prefer that they do,” he said.

Mr Chaudhry acknowledged the need for caution but stressed that the free flow of information remained essential in a democracy.

“Politicians can get information — of course, they use their discretion,” he said.

“But we’re living in a democracy and free flow of information is necessary.”

Off-the-record discussions are a long-standing practice in journalism, where reporters agree not to directly attribute or publish what is said, allowing sources to speak more openly.

The court ruling has raised fresh questions about how reliable that arrangement now is.