Those who teach 'there's no such thing as off the record' hav no experience dealing with the press. In fact in my experience, the people who have the most jaded view of journos, are the ones who have had the least experience with them.
Off the record exists it is part and parcel of a well informed relationship. I have never been let down, and I have dealt with matters far more serious than the one under discussion.
As for media ops seeing their job as supressing bad news stories: that may be the way our current political master operates, but it is a short sighted policy that will damage the services in the end.
vp