Off-the-Record Interview 101

In the effort to talk to as many sources as possible for my health disparities story, I contacted Dr. Dionne Godette, assistant professor of health promotion and behavior in the College of Public Health.

But it was "off the record."

And why exactly?

I thought she would be a prime resource considering her research area focuses on disparities on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and disparities of health at the community level. Yet, she did not want to be included in the story.

Aside from her obvious fear of the press, her thoughts and suggestions were quite interesting.

She suggested that I always question two things:
1. How is the person being interviewed defining disparities?
2. Where is the professor in their research? Is it finding causes or developing interventions?

Thankfully she suggested more contacts, who will, hopefully, be more willing to disclose their viewpoints to me. Overall, I was pleased to learn more about health disparities... but would have preferred the real in-depth interview so vital for my story.