Tactical silence

Journalists are known to chivvy, coddle, do whatever it takes to get their sources to part with "exclusive" information. A senior official, who recently assumed charge at a key ministry, has found an interesting way to get rid of prying journalists. He tells them, "Being a good bureaucrat, I read only one topic a day, that is, the topic on which I have to brief you all." In most cases, that candid confession is enough to steamroll visiting journalists to restrict their questions to the topic for the day's
press briefing.