Paraphrasing and Quoting

1. Paraphrasing and Quoting The Formula for News Writing

2. KeyTerms • Direct Quotation • What a person said, in his or her own words • Paraphrase • When a reporter puts the speakers ideas into his or her own words. • Partial Quotation • A quotation that uses just a few words from a speaker’s statement. • Attribution • The source of the statement must be identified.

3. The Formula • Every news story body follows the same formula • A fact or paraphrase of a person’s report • A quote from the person • The quote should be a phrase or sentence that is important and sounds better than it would paraphrased.

4. Attribution • Attribution simply means telling your readers where the information in your story comes from, as well as who is being quoted. • Generally, attribution means using a source’s full name and/or job title/description (when relevant).

5. An Example • Source – Paraphrase • Jeb Jones, a resident of the trailer park, said the sound of the tornado was terrifying. • Source – Quote • “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it,” Jeb Jones, who lives in the trailer park, said.

6. As A Whole Jeb Jones, a resident of the trailer park, said the sound of the tornado was terrifying. “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it,” Jones said.

7. When to Attribute • On the record: All statements are directly quotable and attributable, by name and title, to the person making the statement. • Example: "The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran," said White House press secretary Jim Smith. • Reporters should strive to have their sources speak on the record whenever possible. A named source gives a story greater credibility.

8. When to Attribute, cont. • On Background: All statements are directly quotable, but can't be attributed by name or specific title to the person commenting. • Example: "The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran," a White House spokesman said.

9. When to Edit • Take out the “ya knows” and “ums”, and no harm is done. • This sometimes leaves you with a tangled sentence. • Because of this, sometimes journalists decide not to use a direct quote but to try to convey the source’s ideas in clearer words (Paraphrase)

10. When to Edit, cont. • If the subject uses a profane word or phrases • Cut entirely • When the subject uses poor grammar • Again, paraphrase • Don’t make the subject look unintelligent • Undermines credibility

11. Practice • Paraphrase this: • “We are doing everything in our power at police headquarters to see to it that there is a parking place in the school lots or on the street for everyone who drives to school. We hope everyone involved will be patient,” Chief of Police John Dunn said.

12. Practice • Chief Jones said that police are trying to find parking space for everyone who drive to school. He urged patience and promised to find a solution for the overcrowded school lots. • Does yours look similar?

13. Practice (Again) • Turn this into two paragraphs • One paraphrase, one quote • “We have 3,543 books in Room 101 and 4,589 in Room 209, plus about 400 movies and 250 CDs in the annex—and if we don’t pass the bond issue so we can get more room I’m going to resign.”

14. Check (Again) • Roy Taylor, the school librarian, said the library houses more than 3500 books in room 101 and more than 4500 in room 209, plus about 400 movies and 250 CDs in the annex. “If we don’t pass the bond issue so we can get more room, I’m going to resign,” he said.

15. Sources • Rogers, Tony (n.d.). “How to use attribution in a news story.” About News. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://journalism.about.com/od/writing/a/attribution.htm.