Quotations and Attributions

1. Quotations and Attributions “saying is believing”

2. Why? • Quotations can be more than strings of words with quotation marks around them • They can generate emotion, vividness, and exclusive material. • They make the story more real, i.e. credible. • They bring a dull piece to life and make a good one even better.

3. Types of Quotations • Complete direct • Partial • Indirect or paraphrased

4. Complete direct quotation • If a well said sentence(s) by interviewee makes a reporter feel that it provides reader with an impact and representation of the content and the title of the speaker, then it should be used as a direct quote.

5. Partial quotation • Maybe some parts of what the interviewee said is worthy of a direct quote. • The language is slightly altered, but not the meaning of much of the statement, while retaining specific portions of the original sentences. • Careful: occasional use OR only when you cannot get complete quote.. Otherwise you confuse the reader

6. Indirect or paraphrased quotations • Sometimes the source/interviewee says something worth the reference but doesn’t use strong enough words. In that case, it might seem practically the same if the reporter paraphrases. • With paying attention to proper attribution, this type follows the logic of saving the marks “..” for something that really echoes in the reader’s mind.

7. When and how to quote • It’s a major consideration when conducting an interview or listening to a speech. • Some reporters use quotations sparingly so as not to turn over the story entirely to the sources. • Others use them often because they make the source talk directly to the audience. • Best to think of them as print’s “sound bites”.

8. Accuracy • Quotation marks around the sentence(s) generally mean that this is exactly what the speaker said, except for the allowed interference of grammar and word use correction. • So, it’s imp that direct quotes are accurate. • When in doubt: paraphrase + attribution.

9. Don’t be “creative”! • Never make up direct quotations or paraphrases. It might appear so obvious, but some journalists confess that they sometimes do it. • “words in your mouth” technique is not favorable, but can be used in utmost need only. Then it should ALWAYS be a paraphrase. AND should never be faked. (e.g. did the pain feel like a sharp, binding jab in your head?... “yes, that’s how it was”… then the man said that the pan felt like a sharp blinding jab in the head). • It takes a good question and a good ear.

10. Guidelines for direct quotations • Save them for specific, vivid, pungent, or even humorous sentences. Eloquence is a determining factor. (e.g. a pediatrician’s reaction to an anti-abortion film: “the basic right is the right to life”, said Dr. X. “The mother has a right to life. The baby has a right to life. Without life, there are no other rights”).

11. At the same time, do not waste strong statements, those that really hit the heart, or make the mind spin in thought, in paraphrase. • Descriptive or inner feelings (e.g. Senator Y: “My father had a fifth-grade education. Never made over $7500 in any year. He was soul of honor”, Senator Y said. “I wish I could be a decent human being as he was”).

12. Use it to capture personality o supplement a fact. • Let your internal ear balance out accuracy and “special effects”. (e.g. you don’t have to quote an official saying: “there will be another meeting next Wednesday”. Here it’s logic to paraphrase and attribute. But maybe if he says: “the next meeting will be a real battle”.)

13. Use it in dialogue. • To reduce attribution.

14. Avoid: • Inaccuracies in quotations: double-check what you suspect you got wrong or incomplete, either over a phone with bad connection, or face to face with too much noise in the background. Ask interviewee to repeat or reread to him/her your notes of what was said.

15. Avoid: • Unverified/misunderstood “facts” in a quote: e.g. if restaurant owner says employers had to release (fire) 2500 out of 3000 members of staff during opposition’s sit-in in DT Beirut. Check restaurant owners syndicate: total number is 2500. Come back to speaker for explanation: either he doesn’t know (discredited or at least you are not misled), or he summed up full-timers with part-timers (good added info), or he reviews the records (then resort to documented info), etc..

16. Avoid: • Rambling quotations: some sources love to hear themselves talk. If they bore you, then there is a great chance that they’ll bore the reader too. This is when you should paraphrase and use partial quotations.

17. Avoid: • Incomprehensible quotations: might especially happen with specialist (scientists, researchers, doctors, engineers, etc). Here, unlike other circumstances, you might show the story to interviewee before publishing. But it’s better that YOU explain to lay reader. Thus, negotiate with speaker: “can we say that…?” or “does this mean that…?” (possibility of adversarial relation later). • Also beware of terms like “breakthrough” or “major discovery” or above all “cure”.

18. Avoid: • Reconstructing quotations to make them sound better or stronger, or to cover up for the speaker’s failure, or even your own to get a full quotation. DO NOT add words to make it complete. Simply paraphrase or use partial quotations. • Fragmentary quotations that serve no purpose. Simply DON’T quote.

19. Avoid: • Illogical direct quotes, like the speaker referring to himself as “he”. • Obscenities and vulgarities, unless absolutely necessary to the story, and then maybe first letter followed by “…” or “---”. Ask: why use it? Instead of why NOT use it? • Offensive language to some readers, like damn or goddamnit. Better to write “d--- it” or drop it altogether but DO NOT write “darn it”.

20. Avoid: • Dialect, unless crucially pertinent to the story. • However, this is also (like profanity) variable among different media.

21. Attributing quotations: When & How? • Attribution tells the reader the source of info • However, not every piece of info needs attribution, especially in leads, because it’s usually evident that it comes from a reliable source, provided it is true of course. • Attribution for some factual info (like the final results of a basketball game) is unnecessary. • Needed with opinion or info subject to change or controversy.

22. Verbs for attribution • Because saidand added are neutral words, it’s always best to use them at all times. • Opinion writers (and novelists and maybe feature writers) might use subjective verbs like huff, whine, snort, etc.. But not straight news reporters. • Said might sound repetitive and unimaginative, i.e. its use should be creative. (e.g. he said with a smile, she said with a grimace, etc..) • Some newspapers consider “loose-hanging” quotations (without attribution) unacceptable; others permit it after consecutive paragraphs of citation.

23. Identification in attribution • It’s very rare that a person is so well known to ANY reader that his/her name stands alone in the lead. • Identify source by name and title. Sometimes title comes in a paragraph, and name in the one after. Names not necessary for spokespersons or agreeing groups. • Attribution compelling for more than one person and with indirect/paraphrased quotes.

24. In paragraphs that follow the lead, first reference attribution should include the person’s name and title, or any other kind of identification (AUB student, grocer in Hamra street, Iraqi refugee in Lebanon). • Beware of “hearsay attribution”. (e.g. a witness in a theft case. DO NOT say: the witness said that he did not see Mr. X around the house at that hour. But: according to the police report, the witness said….).

25. Placement of attribution • Usually comes after the quotation because what’s said is more imp than who said it. • Sometimes, however, the attribution can be of certain significance that it precedes that quotation (e.g. the President said, “the electoral process should take its course as a determinant of the country’s future”. Not necessarily bec president but bec controversial)

26. If multiple sentences are quoted directly, the attribution comes after the first sentence (e.g. “there will be elections on June 7th, and they will be decisive,” PM Sanyoura said. “It is crucial that we respect constitutional dates. The Lebanese citizens have the right to see their representatives doing their job without any delay”.)

27. When speakers change (and there is no transitory paragraph from the writer) attribution should be placed before the first sentence. (e.g. “I love basketball,” said Ms. X. “watching the game on TV simply revives my senses”. Mr. Y says he doesn’t watch it because “the constant running, back and forth, puts one’s nerves on the edge”. but it’s better to separate them with transition like: However, there are viewers who have a less appreciative eye conception of the game.

28. Attribution to the same speaker should not be used more than once in a quotation if it continues for several paragraphs. • If a partial quotation is followed by a direct one, use the attribution between them. (e.g. The elections will take place in one day, all over Lebanon, and “any delay will turn against the country’s interest”, PM Sanyoura said. “We should all work together to make it happen”.)

29. Guidelines for anonymous sources • Be upfront with the source, especially if they are not accustomed to talking to the media. • Establish the conventions of on the record (material can be used as direct quotation with attribution) and off the record (material cannot be used). • In addition to on background (material can be used as direct quote but with no attribution by name), and on deep background (no direct quotation and not attributed to the source in any way). • Good to introduce yourself as a reporter from beginning.

30. Decisions reporters make • Sometimes after the source has talked they requires anonymity. That’s when you should think of the value of info, the position of the source and the editorial policies of the newspaper. • You could argue and persuade the source to talk on the record. Or you realize that you need this source again and you can confirm info from someone else because you don’t want to get the source in trouble or risk future relationship with him.

31. Sometimes anonymous sources believe their bosses don’t like them getting on the record, or that they (boss) should get the credit. • Anonymous sources are also valuable because they can lead you to other sources. Don’t turn them off right away. Try to persuade. If it doesn’t work, ask who is to speak on the record, especially when you don’t want to deprive public of imp info.

32. Talk to your editor. Sometimes it’s better that he/she knows the identity of the source. • Look for alternative sources you can attribute to and identify. • If confidentiality is absolutely necessary, some institutions ask you to state the reasons behind it to the readers as fully as possible.