For Attribution

The background story, attributed to "a high Government official" or "a well-informed source," is a useful, legitimate device. It enables reporters to get enough inside information to put a story in perspective. At the same time, it protects the source from getting into trouble for divulging sensitive information. Over the years, however, too many Washington officials have become conditioned to making background material "not for attribution" through sheer force of habit. Washington Post Managing Editor Benjamin Bradlee finally decided to try to call a halt to spurious backgrounders in his paper. "Ninety percent of the information given by background," he declared, "could be on the record."

After talking the matter over with his reporters and New York Times Associate Editor James Reston, Bradlee laid down some guidelines: "First, we encourage every reporter to fight like hell to get it on the record. Second, he should insist that the absolute minimum he'll take is attribution to the Government agency involved. Third, he should say in the story why it is background news. Finally, the reporter is free, at his discretion, to get up and leave a background session."

All that remained was to try out the new rules. An opportunity arose at a White House press conference. After discussing the President's views on the Common Market, Negotiator Bill Roth announced that the session was for "background only." Washington Post Reporter Carroll Kilpatrick asked why. "It's background information," said Press Secretary George Christian. "I'm sorry," Timesman Max Frankel broke in, "but if you're going to give me information on that basis, I'm authorized by my editors to say that the White House has no comment on this." So threatened, Roth put most of what he said on the record.

A week later, Post Reporter Eric Wentworth tested the same technique at a conference called by Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman. When Freeman said that his discussion of the Kennedy Round of tariff negotiations was for background only, Wentworth rose and replied: "I'm sorry, Mr. Secretary, but it's not the policy of our paper to attend background briefings." Freeman was visibly startled, but he refused to budge. "I'll withdraw," said Wentworth, and did. While other papers carried full reports of the conference, attributing it to a vague source, the Post ran nothing. Said Bradlee philosophically: "We'll probably get beat a couple of times."

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