Handling Quotes Fairly and Accurately

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Handling Quotes Fairly and Accurately

• Chapter 8
• pgs.168-178

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Quotes from Tom Osborne

• It wasnt a ho-hum thing, but our players were
  confident theyd win tonight.
• I think the players expected to win. It wasnt
  ho-hum. But it was matter-of fact.
• I certainly didnt think it would be a blowout.
• I didnt think it would be a blowout.

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Quotes from Tom Osborne

• I guess theres still a place in college
  football for a running quarterback. The option
  still has a place in football.
• This does point out the fact that there is still
  a place in college football for a running
  quarterback. We believe there is still a place
  for the option.

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What do you think is wrong?

• At least one of the quotes in each pair has to be
  wrong.
• The coach could not have both quotes attributed
  to him.
• Does it matter? Do direct quotes have to be word
  for word accurate? Is there no margin for error?

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What does this mean?

• The changes in what Osborne said were quite
  harmlessbut they are still bothersome.
• The world doesnt really care if a word or two is
  different in this case, but 100 percent accuracy
  is always the goal.

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Direct Quotation

• As a beginning journalist, you should pay close
  attention to the skills involved in handling
  quoted material.
• When you enclose a sentence or part of a sentence
  in quotes, you are telling your readers that the
  words are exactly what the speaker said.
• This is seldom if ever reached.

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Direct Quotation

• When people are speaking extemporaneously, they
  say things like ya know, hmmmm, ahhhh, etc.
• You wouldnt want to copy speech exactly.
• The most important thing is to convey their
  informationthere is no information in ya know

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A question of exactness

• Most sources dont care if they are quoted
  exactlythey care that their thoughts and ideas
  are conveyed accurately to the public
• They do not care about their exact words.
• Does this mean that journalists can just come
  close? NOyou should always try to be 100 percent
  accurate, especially in certain circumstances.

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Using a tape recorder

• Can be a great help when capturing someones
  exact words is important.
• If the source agrees, you may use the tape
  recorder.
• It is sometimes good to use a recorder during
  speeches and meetings.
• Remember to still take good notes!

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When Not to Quote

• There are exceptions to using exact
  quotes-quoting a 4-letter word is a good example.
• Theres also no need to reproduce bad
  grammar-unless it is part of the persons
  character and would change you story if you
  didnt.

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Paraphrasing

• Often paraphrasing is helpful. It is perfectly
  alright to paraphrase a persons words to put
  the speakers ideas into the reporters own
  words. So, if a direct quote is long or rambling
  or poorly stated, the writer may revise it, knock
  off the quote marks, and simply add he said or
  she said at the end of the sentence.

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Example

• We are doing everything in our power at police
  headquarters to see to it that there is a parking
  place for everyone who drives to school. We hope
  everyone involved will be patient. Well work it
  out, I promise.
• This can be paraphrased

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Paraphrase of quote from Chief Jones

• Chief Jones said police are trying to find
  parking space for everyone at school. He urged
  patience and promised to find a solution for the
  crowded lots.

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Some words must be changed

• Example We decided to go to a movie must be
  paraphrased They decided to go to a movie
• Always say the country, the school, the town, not
  our country, our school, our town. Writing in
  first person injects the reporter into the story
  it amounts editorializing into a story.

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Paraphrase for Facts

• Quotes should not be used to convey facts.
• Quotes make a story lively, give it a human
  touch, let readers begin to understand what a
  source is like.
• Capture good quotes and use lots of them.
• But paraphrase when youre simply conveying facts.

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Avoid Repetition

• Do not present the same information as both a
  paraphrase and a direct quote.
• Example
• The mayor promised today he would never embezzle
  money from the city again.
• I will never embezzle money from the city
  again, the mayor said.

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Partial Quotation

• One method to avoid the overuse of both
  paraphrased material and long blocks of quoted
  material is the partial quote. A writer is free
  to directly quote part of a sentence while
  paraphrasing the rest.
• The school needs a dress code, the principal
  said, because the students are becoming sloppy
  in dress and sloppy in thought.

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Partial Quotation

• Beware that you do not carry this practice to
  absurd extremes.
• Jones said he was happy after scoring the
  touchdown.
• These quotes add nothing but confusion. These
  are not quotes that are quoteworthy.

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Attribution

• Since it is not possible to really know what
  people mean or feel or believe, report what they
  say they mean or feel or believe. Report what the
  person said and make a point of saying who said
  it.
• Examples The superintendent said she will
  resign. The police chief said Jones had confessed.

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Attribution

• The verb you use to indicate your source is
  important stated, declared, noted, pointed out,
  and so on.
• The BEST word to use is said.
• It is neutral and contains no editorializing and
  rarely becomes tiresome no matter how often it
  appears in a story.

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Words to Use

• Be careful which word you select when you dont
  use said.
• Stated is very formal
• Pointed out should be reserved for absolute
  facts.
• Charge, demand, shout, and other words like that
  have editorial connotations.

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Need for Attribution

• When you need attribution, where should you place
  the he saids and the she saids. In general
  they work best at the end or in the middle of a
  sentence. In a long quote, attribution should
  come at the first logical point in the first
  sentence.
• Example Our students are mature, Kuzinski told
  teachers Tuesday, but they do not always act
  like it.

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Checklist for Interview Story

• Is the person being interviewed identified at the
  beginning of the story?
• Is the story a mix of text and interesting ,
  relevant direct quotations?
• Are paraphrases used in place of rambling
  speeches and lists of facts?
• Are all important, controversial, or
  opinion-based statements clearly attributed?
• Is the story free from grammatical errors and
  does it follow the AP stylebook?

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Assignment

• As ten students you do not know well for their
  opinion on a school issue, or an issue that
  relates to students.
• Write a story suitable for publication, quoting
  all students correctly.
• By the end of the block, have your topic selected
  and your questions written.
• By Wednesday, have your interviews completed.