Confidentiality has become a weapon in the White House's war on the press, a war fought with the unwitting complicity of the press itself. Norman Pearlstine takes us behind the scenes of one of the most controversial courtroom dramas of our time.
When Pearlstine-as editor in chief of Time Inc.-agreed to give prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald a reporter's notes of a conversation with a "confidential source," he was vilified for betraying the freedom of the press. But Pearlstine shows that "Plamegate" was not the clear case it seemed to be. In his "vigorously written" inside story (The Washington Post), Pearlstine daringly challenges the conventional wisdom that freedom of the press is an absolute.
Industry Reviews
"Indispensable . . . All students or practitioners of journalism should be required to read Off the Record." --Richard Holbrooke
"This is a brutally honest, tough, savvy, and absolutely riveting book . . . A provocative analysis of a topic critical to the future of journalism and democracy." --Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute
"Norman Pearlstine pulls no punches on either journalism or law in this fascinating book." --Anthony Lewis, longtime New York Times columnist Indispensable . . . All students or practitioners of journalism should be required to read "Off the Record." "Richard Holbrooke"
This is a brutally honest, tough, savvy, and absolutely riveting book . . . A provocative analysis of a topic critical to the future of journalism and democracy. "Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute"
Norman Pearlstine pulls no punches on either journalism or law in this fascinating book. "Anthony Lewis, longtime New York Times columnist"" "Indispensable . . . All students or practitioners of journalism should be required to read "Off the Record."" --Richard Holbrooke "This is a brutally honest, tough, savvy, and absolutely riveting book . . . A provocative analysis of a topic critical to the future of journalism and democracy." --Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute "Norman Pearlstine pulls no punches on either journalism or law in this fascinating book." --Anthony Lewis, longtime "New York Times "columnist"
" "Indispensable . . . All students or practitioners of journalism should be required to read "Off the Record"." -Richard Holbrooke "This is a brutally honest, tough, savvy, and absolutely riveting book . . . A provocative analysis of a topic critical to the future of journalism and democracy." -Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute "Norman Pearlstine pulls no punches on either journalism or law in this fascinating book." -Anthony Lewis, longtime "New York Times "columnist"
" " This is a brutally honest, tough, savvy, and absolutely riveting book. Norman Pearlstine gives us the behind-the-scenes narrative of the Valerie Plame case and uses it to reexamine the rules of engagement between reporters and sources. With his deep knowledge of journalism and the law, he is the perfect person to write such a book. The result is a gripping and surprisingly candid narrative as well as a provocative analysis of a topic critical to the future of journalism and democracy." -- Walter Issacson, president of the Aspen Institute and author of "Einstein"
" Norman Pearlstine pulls no punches on either journalism or law in this fascinating book. He tells us what really happened in the Valerie Plame-Scooter Libby imbroglio, and the lessons for freedom of the press." -- Anthony Lewis, longtime "New York Times" columnist and author of "Gideon's Trumpet"
