Are news and media reporters legally required to keep off-the-record comments made by fire officers confidential?

The assertion that news and media reporters are legally required to keep off-the-record comments made by fire officers confidential is false. In general, off-the-record comments can be considered private information during an interview, but whether a reporter must keep such comments confidential depends largely on the agreement between the reporter and the source. Legally, reporters often are not bound by any confidentiality unless there is a specific agreement in place. Additionally, the default position in journalism does not provide blanket confidentiality for off-the-record statements unless the journalist explicitly agrees to respect that confidentiality before the comments are made.

In situations where confidentiality is crucial, it becomes important for the source to clearly communicate to the reporter that comments are off-the-record. Only then might a reporter honor that aspect ethically, but this is based on professional courtesy and not a legal obligation.