It’s nice to be quoted in a publication or featured on TV as an expert commentator. But getting publicity shouldn’t always be the end goal when engaging with the media. There are many situations in which speaking with reporters without the intention of ending up in a story may better fit your PR strategy and be helpful to journalists, too.

Whether your goal is to ensure accuracy in coverage of a nuanced matter you’re handling or simply to build a relationship with a key journalist, it’s important to start with a strategy. Here, we examine common reasons for engaging journalists without going on the record, how to navigate such scenarios, and what steps you should take to ensure the end result is beneficial both for your strategic goals and those of the reporter.

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