Journalism Today

Chapter 8: Handling Quotes Fairly and Accurately

Overview

Reproducing accurately what people say is a basic journalistic function. However, people often start and stop sentences; they say, "like, you know" or "um" in between thoughts. It's virtually impossible to reproduce speech exactly, and sources are more interested in having their thoughts and ideas conveyed accurately, not necessarily their manner of speaking. For this reason and others, exact quotes are not always appropriate.

If a direct quote is long and rambling or poorly stated, the writer may paraphrase. To paraphrase someone's direct quote, revise it, knock off the quote marks, and simply add "he said" or "she said" at the beginning or end of the sentence. When paraphrasing, be sure to shift pronouns when necessary. Paraphrasing can be especially useful for conveying facts gleaned from a source, but be sure not to present the same information as a paraphrase and a direct quote. Use partial quotations to avoid overusing paraphrased material and long blocks of direct quotes. In a partial quote a writer is free to quote part of a sentence directly, while paraphrasing the rest.

Beginning writers often have trouble with attribution. Attribution amounts to giving the reader the name of the source. The need for attribution is in direct proportion to the amount of controversy attached to the statement, but when in doubt—attribute. In general, attribution works best at the end or in the middle of a sentence. Also, when attributing a quote, remember to use neutral verbs free from editorial overtones (e.g., said or stated).

Stories about speeches, panel discussions, and similar events that are basically about what someone says should be written with a mixture of direct quotes, paraphrased material, and partial quotes. Always remember to write about what was said, not about the simple fact that someone spoke. Also, pay close attention to the audience, and watch for any obvious omissions.

Whether you are covering a speech or interviewing a source for a news story, tape recorders can help a writer report quotes accurately and fairly. If the source agrees, turn on a small recorder at the beginning of the interview, set it aside, and let it run. Even if you are using a tape recorder, take good notes as the tape recorder may stop functioning.