Quotes and Attribution

 

"Quotation marks signal the reader that something special is coming. Direct quotes provide a story with a change of pace, a breath of air. They also loosen up a clump of dense type."

Use Direct Quotes When:

  1. Someone says something surprising, unique, disturbing, new or different.
  1. Someone says something uniquely.
  1. Someone important says something important.

Accuracy: - most important obligation of reporters

*Get and record exact words when interviewing so there is no confusion when writing your story.

Verification:

Problems in Direct Quotations:

Paraphrasing Quotes: the best way to avoid confusing and unclear quotes or needlessly long quotes is to paraphrase. (example of this is on p. 127)

As a reporter, you must have confidence that you are able to convey a meaning in fewer words and in better language than the speaker did.

Using Partial Quotes: in most cases, refrain from using unneeded partial quotes.

However, put a word or phrase inside quotation marks if it is too strong or unusual to use in a paraphrase.

When using partial quotes do not put quotation marks around something the speaker could not have said.

Capturing Dialect or Accent: (colloquial expressions)

If you are going to capture dialect or accent be consistent and use it all the way through your story.

Mix Matching Questions and Answers

When debating over whether you should use answers from one question to answer another question ask yourself: Am I being fair? Am I distorting the meaning? Am I putting quotes together that change what the speaker meant to say?

Correcting Quotes: When do you or should you correct grammatical errors in a direct quotation?

There is no agreement on this issue in the journalism industry.

Removing Redundancies: the removing of irrelevant material by using ellipses.

The answer for most reporters and editors is to take out the quotation marks and paraphrase.

However, there is no agreement in the industry so you should know the policy of your news organization.

Deleting Obscenity, Profanity, and Vulgarity:

AP Style Rulebook says: "If a full quote that contains profanity, obscenity or vulgarity cannot be dropped but there is no compelling reason for the offensive language, replace letters of an offensive word with a hyphen."

"Do not use them in stories unless they are part of direct quotations and there is a compelling reason for them."

Avoiding Make-up quotes: making up quotes is unacceptable journalism.

Practicing Prepublication Review:

*Check the accuracy of your direct quotations with your source!

When to attribute quotes: You should usually have a source for the information you write and when you do, attribute it.

However, you do not have to attribute if one or more of the following is true:

* It is possible to attribute too often and even though you do not always need to attribute, when in doubt attribute!

How to Attribute

"said" is often used and in most cases it is the answer to your problem

"said" can be used often because it hides in news columns and doesn’t call attention to itself.

"said" is also neutral and objective.

"said" is your safest bet

When attributing follow these rules:

For example: "Everything is under control," the sheriff said.

Handling on- and off-the-record info.

When using a source that does not want to be named: if you agree to accept their information, you must honor their request to remain off the record.

Guidelines for Citing Sources

Not naming sources:

    1. Lacks credibility and makes the reporter and the newspaper suspect.
    2. The source could be lying.
    3. Once you have promised not to reveal a source, there is no going back.

Helpful tips: Know the policy of your paper on citing sources and do not allow a speaker to suddenly claim something as off the record.

However, when doing this, make it clear to the source and let them know why you can do so.

Helpful tips: when possible set the ground rules with your source ahead of time and know your newspaper’s policy in these matters!