PowerPoint on basics on quotations and attributions for journalism

1. Quotations and Attributions
Stratton 20111

2. Basic Rules to Follow
Rule #1: Never create, invent or manufacture
quotations
Rule #2:Always be a good observer
Rule #3: Choose quotes wisely
Rule #4: Better to not use quote than use poor quote
Rule #5: Punctuation marks go inside quotes
Rule #6: Always attribute every statement & opinion
Rule #7: Quotations should begin new paragraph
Rule #8: If a quote needs explaining then paraphrase
instead
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3. Uses of Quotes
1. Provides color
2. Lends authenticity and realism to the story
3. Increase reader interest in the story
4. Personalizes the story for the reader
5. Moves the story along
6. Reveals something crucial about the subject
7. Expresses a thought better than the writer can
8. Reveals character traits about a subject
9. Captures dramatic moments better than exposition
could
10.Suggest universal truths
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4. Types of Quotations
1. Direct quotations
2. Indirect quotations
3. Paraphrased quotations
4. Partial quotations
5. Dialogue
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5. Direct Quotes
 Uses the person's exact words.
 Contained in quotation marks.
 Reports word-for-word what a speaker said.
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6. Direct Quotes
 Faulty grammar may be polished if the person you
are quoting would recognize the error in print.
 Quote must…
 the substance of the remark in full accuracy
 the spirit in which the remark was made
 the typical language used by the speaker
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7. Using Direct Quotes
 Use quote if it is particularly articulate or powerful in
the wording
 Most people do not speak in a way which translates
well into a quote
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8. Using Direct Quotes
 Only use a quote if it conveys something not
communicated better in your own words
 If it isn’t articulate (clear), then a better strategy is
paraphrasing what the subject has told you
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9. Direct Quote Example
 In an interview, for example, the speaker may tend
to ramble. Suppose the speaker, Principal Don
Jackson, actually said:
 “Well, ah, what I’m trying to get across is, maybe we
ought to consider, ah, whether or not the students, you
know, should be allowed to smoke anywhere on this
campus.”
 In print the quoted remark probably would be
simplified to:
 “We ought to consider whether or not students should
be allowed to smoke anywhere on this campus.”
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10. Direct Quotes
 If the subject is well known, then a direct quote may
be appropriate
 The more significant the interviewee is, the more likely a
reader will be interested
 Make sure the quote is used to add a unique angle
or credibility to the story
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11. Direct Quotes
 If the quote is quirky or captures the source’s
personality
 If it is emotional or highly opinionated
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12. Indirect quotations
 Mostly uses the person's ideas in their words.
 A few words my be changed for clarification.
 Not in quotation marks as words are not exactly
what person said.
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13. Paraphrased quotations
 Paraphrasing means using the ideas of an
author, but not using his or her exact words.
 Uses the reporters words & terms.
 The meaning should be the same.
 No quotation marks used.
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14. Partial quotations
 A combination of direct and paraphrased
quotations.
 Will have some words in quotation marks.
 AP states this style is overused by professionals.
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15. Dialogue
 Combines two or more speakers.
 Often seen in feature stories & magazines.
 May be seen in trial court reporting.
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16. Quotations Examples Part 1
 Direct Quotation: “We ought to consider
whether or not students should be allowed to
smoke anywhere on this campus,” Don
Jackson, principal, said.
 Indirect Quotation: Jackson said the
administration ought to consider whether or not
students should be allowed to smoke on
campus.
 Paraphrase: Jackson raised the question of
students smoking on campus.
 Partial Quotation: Jackson urged the
administration to consider banning student
smoking on campus to eliminate “the disgusting
mess left in the smoking area.” 16

17. Quotations Examples Part 2
 Dialogue:
• The assembly became electrified.
• “Should we be thumping our chests and telling the
world?” Principal Don Jackson bellowed to the
student body after announcing that South had been
recognized as one of the top schools in the nation.
• “Yes, yes, yes,” they echoed back.
• “Are we proud?” he asked.
• “Yes, yes, yes,” they replied.
• “We are...” yelled Jackson.
• “South Eugene,” screamed the students. 17

18. IdentifytheQuoteType1
1. Direct
quotations
2. Indirect
quotations
3. Paraphrased
quotations
4. Partial
quotations
5. Dialogue
1. "We have been waiting for this
moment for a long time.
MoammarGadhafi has been
killed," Prime Minister
MahmoudJibril told a news
conference in the capital Tripoli.
2. Celebratory gunfire and cries of
"Allahu Akbar" or "God is Great"
rang out across the capital
Tripoli.
3. Libya's new leaders had said
they would declare the country's
"liberation" after the fall of Sirte.
1
4
4
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19. IdentifytheQuoteType2
1. Direct
quotations
2. Indirect
quotations
3. Paraphrased
quotations
4. Partial
quotations
5. Dialogue
1. NOAA issued their annual winter
outlook for the United States
Thursday and it certainly has a La
Nina flavor to it, meaning the
Pacific Northwest is likely in for
another wet and cool winter.
2. Tusko weighs 13,000 pounds, Zoo
officials said.
3. “The birth of a new calf is an
incredibly enriching event in these
animals’ lives,” said Mike Keele, the
zoo’s director of elephant habitats
and one of North America’s leading
Asian elephant experts.
2
2
1
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20. IdentifytheQuoteType3
1. Direct
quotations
2. Indirect
quotations
3. Paraphrased
quotations
4. Partial
quotations
5. Dialogue
1. After the new hires, the plant will
have a total workforce of about
1,050, Daum said. Plant jobs start
at $12 an hour and top out at $23 to
$25 an hour.
2. Proponents say the move is key in
preventing teen pregnancy and
promoting student health.
3. At Canby's 2-year-old
center, students have access to
select "reproductive health"
services, a requirement for school-
based health centers in Oregon.
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3
4
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21. IdentifytheQuoteType4
1. Direct
quotations
2. Indirect
quotations
3. Paraphrased
quotations
4. Partial
quotations
5. Dialogue
1. In early March, we sat down at his
kitchen counter in downtown New York
City over sushi to talk about his career.
CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN: You're considered
one of Georgia's native sons. But in
reality, you grew up on army bases all around
the country, didn't you?
MICHAEL STIPE: I was born in Georgia.
That's where my grandparents-and all my
people-are from. But my family traveled a
great deal because my dad was in the army
as a helicopter pilot.
Bollen: How did music first get into the ears of
an army kid?
Stipe: Music really started when I read about
the CBGB scene in New York in a magazine
called Rock Scene. And then I accidentally got
a subscription to The Village Voice when I
was 14.
2. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says
he is free of cancer after returning from
Cuba for health checks, four months
following surgery there.
5
2
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22. IdentifytheQuoteType5
1. Direct
quotations
2. Indirect
quotations
3. Paraphrased
quotations
4. Partial
quotations
5. Dialogue
1. Eight children and four young adults
are put in protective custody in
Philadelphia amid a probe into the
chaining of four people in a so-called
'dungeon'.
2. Authorities say at least 105 people
have died in flooding and landslides
provoked by 10 days of heavy rains
in Central America.
3. Steve Honig, Lohan's
spokesman, said in a statement that
the actress was late because she
didn't know which entrance to report
to and "and confusion caused by the
media waiting for her arrival."
4
3
4
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23. Quote Problems
 Avoid rambling quotes
 Avoid quotes with too much technical lingo
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24. Quoting Accurately
 If the grammar is poor, then some reporters will
“clean up” the quote
 This practice varies by publication
 Generally not done
 HOWEVER, if the interview was witnessed by
multiple media outlets (example: press conference)
then you should leave the quotes alone
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25. (sic)
 If you want to be cautious, then you can use the
“(sic)” notation in your printed quote to notate a
grammatical error made by your subject
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26. Editing Quotes
 Never make up a quote
 Don’t add words to a quote
 Exception: You may “clean up” the grammar if it is
minimal and does not change the context or
meaning
 [Be sure to put the changed words in brackets]
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27. Attribution
 In most cases, the simple verb “said” is appropriate
since it is neutral
 Example: “This is a quote,” the teacher said.
 There are other verbs you can use, but be
conservative
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28. Verbs to Avoid
 Minimize use of attribution verbs which are not
neutral
 “ ,” he cried.
 “ ,” she emphasized.
 “ ,” she contended.
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29. Identification in Attribution
 Attribute with the name and job title.
 AFTER Example: “This year’s textbooks are going to be
more expensive,” Mary Smith, librarian, said.
 Use this method!
 BEFORE Example: Mary Smith, librarian, said “This
year’s textbooks are going to be more expensive.”
 Avoid this method
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30. Middle Initials
 AP Stylebook recommends that you use them.
 Particularly in hard news stories where they help identify
a specific individual, such as casualty lists and stories
naming the accused in a crime. This helps to minimize
confusion.
 A middle initial may be dropped if a person does not
use one or is publicly known without it: Mickey
Mantle (not Mickey C.), the Rev. Billy Graham (not
Billy F.).
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31. Talking to Sources
 Many of the best stories will not originate from a
news release
 By nurturing your sources, you will be more likely
to get closer to the truth
 The longer you work with a source, the more
likely you are to determine the relevance of the
information that comes from that source
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32. Sources
 Some sources will want to remain
anonymous
 Avoid this
 If you agree to keep their identity
private, it is unethical to reveal their
names to anyone except your
editor and advisor (high school)
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33. Exceptions:
 Government subpoena (real world only)
 If it is determined to jeopardize the national security or
is essential is solving a crime
 Publication policy
 Due to some problems with reporter integrity, some
publications are now requiring reporters to share the
identity of the anonymous reporter with their supervising
editor or advisor
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34. Recent Example
 Josh Wolf was in jail for
226 days for refusing to
turn over raw news
video footage to
authorities
 This is the longest time
a journalist has been
imprisoned in the U.S.
for protecting source
materials
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35. Use Caution
 Be aware of sources that have an axe to grind
 Do they have an agenda?
 Are they telling the truth?
 Are they reliable?
 Substance abuse = suspicion
 Do they really have a direct connection to the news
event?
 Be careful of “hearsay”
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36. Gossip Alert
 A newspaper is not supposed
to be a tabloid
 Verify information provided by
your sources
 Is the information relevant to
the news value of the story?
 Juicy “gossip” may not equate to
news
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37. Anonymous Sources
 On the record – Everything can be quoted with
attribution
 Background – Everything can be quoted but no
attribution
 Deep background – No quotes can be used, no
attribution – but information can be used
 Off the record – No quotes, no attribution
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38. Policies
 Some publications do not allow anonymous
sources, especially high school publications
 Some require you to disclose the info to your
superior; editor, advisor
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39. “Off the Record”
 Hotly debated topic
 Is it ethical to gather info “off the record”?
 Should everything be fair game?
 Can you use information gained “off the record”
without directly quoting the information or source?
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40. Remember: Basic Rules to Follow
Rule #1: Never create, invent or manufacture
quotations
Rule #2:Always be a good observer
Rule #3: Choose quotes wisely
Rule #4: Better to not use quote than use poor quote
Rule #5: Punctuation marks go inside quotes
Rule #6: Always attribute every statement & opinion
Rule #7: Quotations should begin new paragraph
Rule #8: If a quote needs explaining then paraphrase
instead
40