Quotations%20and%20Attribution

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Quotations andAttribution

• Chapter 9
• Fedler, Bender, Davenport and Drager

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• Its hard for a wire editor staring into a
  computer in Louisville to evaluate the motives
  and credibility of people who whisper to
  reporters in Washington corridors.
• (Linda Raymond, newspaper editor)

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3 sources of news info

• What people say
• What reporters observe
• What is contained in documents
• What people say are written as direct, indirect
  or partial quotes

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3 type of quotes

• Direct quotes - speakers exact words
• Theres too much of a trade-school atmosphere in
  journalism schools, Ambrose said.
• Indirect quotes - paraphrase
• Ambrose said journalism students should deal with
  ideas, not technique.
• Partial quotes
• Ambrose criticized the trade-school atmosphere
  in journalism schools.

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Use of Direct Quotes

• Use quotations to let the source talk directly to
  the reader
• When its a matter of exactness, wit, rhythm,
  color or emotion
• To tie opinion directly to a source
• As evidence
• To reveal the speakers character
• Direct quotes should be used to make a point.

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• Sometimes, quotes are used to explain an idea or
  provide more specific detail
• Quotations, when used properly, help DESCRIBE a
  storys dramatic moments
• These details and description give writers
  authority over the topic and add credibility to
  the report

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How to write direct quotes

• Dont add words to direct quotes. Avoid
  parentheses.
• If you must explain a direct quote
• Set it up with the background.
• Instead of As soon as I get home, Wilson said,
  Im going to bury him his dog Rover next to
  the doghouse.
• Write Wilson said he knows exactly where to bury
  his dog Rover. As soon as I get home, Im going
  to bury him next to the doghouse.

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• Beware of slang and dialect. Dont needlessly
  embarrass people you quote, even if they are
  arrogant or stupid
• Be picky. Dont overuse direct quotes.Youre not
  a court reporter! Youre not writing a
  transcript.
• Direct quotes should not repeat information from
  a previous paraphrase or indirect quote. Dont
  write
• Clinton said he plans to go to Moscow next week.
  I plan to go to Moscow next week, he said.

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• Generally, dont use ellipses
• Never use at the start of a quote
• Rarely, you may use ellipses at the end of a
  quote for literary effect
• I wonder His voice trailed off as Sherman
  pondered how life would have been different in
  Mississippi.

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Tips for Using Quotes

• Mix direct and indirect quotes.
• Use paraphrasing and partial quotes to set up
  direct quotes.
• She said the case is now in the jurys hands.
  Well have to wait and see what they do.

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• If you must explain a direct quote
• Use a partial quote.
• Instead of Jones said, SADD (Students Against
  Drunk Driving) is out of control on this issue
  (to outlaw happy hour).
• Write Jones said the group, Students Against
  Drunk Driving, is out of control on its push to
  outlaw happy hour.

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Using Indirect Quotes

• Reporters use indirect quotes when sources fail
  to express themselves effectively.
• With a well-formed paraphrase, a reporter can
  emphasize the sources most significant remark or
  make it clear
• The paraphrase also helps the reporter avoid
  saying the obvious, evident or trite

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Using Partial Quotes

• Partial or fragmented quotes are confusing,
  awkward and probably unnecessary
• Avoid using orphan quotes, where one or two
  words in a sentence are between quote marks
• Correctly used, a partial quote usually makes
  attribution clear when a certain phrase or word
  is controversial

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• Reporters sometimes use partial quotes if a
  speakers words are strongly emotional or highly
  opinionated
• Partial quotes sometimes imply a writer doubts
  the quote is true
• She said she was annoyed by the article.
• Try removing the quotation marks
• She said she was annoyed by the article.

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Its OK to say said a lot.

• If its what he said, then say thats what he
  said
• Substitutes like claimed, noted, pointed out, and
  maintained can lead the reader to suspect a value
  judgment
• Substitutes like stated, asserted, and elucidated
  sound stilted
• Editors dont like for reporters to use words
  like hope, feel, believe, want or think.

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• Its OK to say someone added to a comment, if
  thats actually true.
• Sometimes its OK to use explained or noted
• The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech,
  she noted.
• He explained he was late because of a dentist
  appointment.
• Use according to for documents only. Said is
  fine for documents, too.

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Levels of Attribution

• On the record attribution means everything the
  source says may be published and directly quoted
• Background is not for attribution, but can be
  quoted, but no source is actually named A
  source close to the investigation
• Deep Background sources may not be identified in
  any way.
• Off the Record means the sources information may
  not be used in the story.

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Attribution Protects You

• Whenever in doubt, attribute
• Always attribute information that could be
  disputed (especially about crimes)
• Always attribute opinion
• Attribute feeling and belief
• He said he felt sorry.
• She said she believes in God.

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• If you attribute a paraphrase, you dont have to
  put attribution in the direct quote that follows
• Clinton said he believes human cloning is
  immoral. So I call on Congress to ban the
  cloning of humans.
• Generally, for short direct quotes, put the
  attribution at the end
• Thats the dumbest thing Ive ever heard, she
  said.

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• Generally, for long direct quotes, put
  attribution in the middle.
• Thats the dumbest thing Ive ever heard, she
  said. I, for one, am going to ignore the rule.
• To grab reader attention, start the paragraph
  with the quote, not the attribution.

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• Dont quote two people in the same paragraph. Put
  them in separate paragraphs, and let the reader
  know youre switching speakers.
• Instead of
• This disaster could have been avoided, Wilcox
  said.
• It was entirely the governors fault, Ruiz
  said.
• Write
• This disaster could have been avoided, Wilcox
  said.
• Ruiz agreed. It was entirely the governors
  fault.

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Abbreviated Titles in Quotes

• Spell out all formal titles when used in
  quotations, with one exception Dr.
• Governor Gilmore considers the bill a waste of
  money, spokesman Mark Miner said.
• Texas Gov. George W. Bush said, I have asked
  General Colin Powell to be my running mate.
• Mayor Tim Kaine said, Dr. Chargois has given us
  all an example to follow.

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Anonymous Sources

• Get permission from editor or news director
  before using anonymous sources
• Be prepared to tell the editor or news director
  who the anonymous source is
• All information from anonymous sources should be
  verified
• Search for the motive
• Make sure source is in a position to have this
  credible information

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• Make sure your audience understands there is a
  clear an present danger in revealing your
  anonymous source
• Do not allow your anonymous source to engage in
  attacks on other individuals or groups
• If you must, then make sure all individuals and
  groups are contacted
• IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO AVOID USING ANY ANONYMOUS
  SOURCE